CVE-2024-7025 Overview
CVE-2024-7025 is an integer overflow vulnerability in the Layout component of Google Chrome prior to version 129.0.6668.89. A remote attacker can exploit heap corruption by serving a crafted HTML page to a target user. The flaw is classified under CWE-190 (Integer Overflow or Wraparound) and CWE-472 (External Control of Assumed-Immutable Web Parameter). Google rated the Chromium security severity as High.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation can lead to heap memory corruption in the browser renderer process, enabling potential code execution within the renderer sandbox after a victim visits an attacker-controlled page.
Affected Products
- Google Chrome versions prior to 129.0.6668.89
- Chromium-based browsers consuming the same Layout component before the patch
- Desktop Stable channel builds (Windows, macOS, Linux) preceding the M129 release
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-11-27 - CVE-2024-7025 published to NVD
- 2025-01-02 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-7025
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the Layout subsystem of Blink, Chrome's rendering engine. An integer overflow occurs when layout calculations operate on attacker-influenced size or count values. When the computed value wraps, downstream allocations or indexing operations use an undersized or otherwise inconsistent buffer size. The mismatch produces a heap corruption condition reachable from a crafted HTML page. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically navigating to a malicious page or a page containing malicious embedded content.
Root Cause
The root cause is unchecked arithmetic on layout-related dimensions during page rendering. Integer overflow conditions [CWE-190] arise when arithmetic on width, height, span, or element-count fields exceeds the range of the underlying integer type. The resulting truncated value is then trusted by allocation and access routines, violating internal invariants about buffer length and element bounds. The Chromium patch in M129 introduces bounds validation on the affected layout computation path.
Attack Vector
Attackers deliver an HTML document with crafted DOM structures, CSS, or scripted layout operations that trigger the overflow during reflow. The attack is network-reachable and requires no privileges, but the user must load the page. Successful heap corruption in the renderer process can be chained with a sandbox escape to achieve full code execution on the host. The vulnerability does not require authentication or prior access to the target system.
No verified public exploit code is available for CVE-2024-7025. Technical details are referenced in the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry and the Google Chrome Stable Update advisory.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-7025
Indicators of Compromise
- Chrome renderer process crashes with heap corruption signatures shortly after navigation to an untrusted page
- Unexpected child processes spawned by chrome.exe or Google Chrome Helper (Renderer) following web browsing activity
- Outbound connections from browser processes to unfamiliar domains hosting heavy or obfuscated HTML/JavaScript payloads
Detection Strategies
- Inventory installed Chrome versions across endpoints and flag any build below 129.0.6668.89
- Monitor browser crash telemetry for Layout, Blink, or heap-related fault modules indicating exploitation attempts
- Correlate web proxy logs with endpoint browser activity to identify users visiting pages associated with known exploit kits
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable enterprise Chrome reporting to centralize version and crash data
- Alert on renderer process anomalies such as code injection attempts, unexpected memory allocations, or shellcode-like behavior
- Track Group Policy compliance for forced browser updates and report endpoints that fall behind the Stable channel
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-7025
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Google Chrome to version 129.0.6668.89 or later on all managed endpoints
- Force-restart browser sessions after deployment so the patched binary loads into memory
- Audit Chromium-based browsers (Edge, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi) and apply vendor updates aligned with the M129 Chromium base
Patch Information
Google addressed the vulnerability in the Chrome Stable channel update documented in the Google Chrome Stable Update. Administrators should deploy Chrome 129.0.6668.89 or newer. Enterprises using Chrome Browser Cloud Management or Group Policy should set the minimum required version to enforce the patched build.
Workarounds
- Restrict browsing to trusted sites via web filtering until the patch is fully deployed
- Disable JavaScript on untrusted origins through enterprise policy where feasible
- Use site isolation and renderer sandbox hardening to limit the blast radius of renderer-process corruption
# Configuration example: enforce minimum Chrome version via Group Policy (Windows)
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome" /v TargetVersionPrefix /t REG_SZ /d "129.0.6668.89" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome" /v RelaunchNotification /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome" /v RelaunchNotificationPeriod /t REG_DWORD /d 86400000 /f
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
