CVE-2025-0291: Google Chrome V8 RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-0291 Overview

CVE-2025-0291 is a type confusion vulnerability in the V8 JavaScript engine used by Google Chrome. The flaw affects Chrome versions prior to 131.0.6778.264. A remote attacker can exploit the issue by serving a crafted HTML page to a target browser. Successful exploitation enables arbitrary code execution inside the Chrome renderer sandbox. Google classifies the Chromium security severity as High, and the issue is tracked under CWE-843 (Access of Resource Using Incompatible Type).

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can achieve arbitrary code execution inside the Chrome renderer sandbox by luring users to a malicious HTML page, providing a foothold for further sandbox escape and full host compromise.

Affected Products

• Google Chrome Desktop versions prior to 131.0.6778.264
• Chromium-based browsers shipping the vulnerable V8 build
• Windows, macOS, and Linux Chrome stable channel installations

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-01-08 - CVE-2025-0291 published to NVD
• 2025-02-11 - Last updated in NVD database
• January 2025 - Google releases Chrome stable channel update with fix, documented in the Chrome Releases blog

Technical Details for CVE-2025-0291

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in V8, the open-source JavaScript and WebAssembly engine that powers Chrome. Type confusion bugs occur when code allocates or accesses an object as one type but later operates on it as another. In V8, this typically arises from incorrect assumptions made by the optimizing compiler (TurboFan or Maglev) about object shapes, hidden classes, or map transitions. When the compiler emits optimized code based on stale or incorrect type feedback, attacker-controlled JavaScript can manipulate engine state to bypass type checks. The result is an in-engine memory corruption primitive that an attacker can shape into arbitrary read, arbitrary write, and ultimately code execution within the renderer process. Because exploitation runs inside the renderer sandbox, the attacker still needs a separate sandbox escape to reach the host, but renderer RCE is the standard precursor to that chain.

Root Cause

The root cause is incorrect type handling in V8 [CWE-843]. JavaScript values are accessed under an assumption about their underlying representation that the engine fails to validate at runtime. This mismatch lets attacker code reinterpret object fields, corrupt internal pointers, and confuse the garbage collector or JIT-compiled fast paths.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires that a user visit an attacker-controlled or compromised web page in a vulnerable Chrome build. The exploit ships as JavaScript on a crafted HTML page and runs without any privileges on the target. User interaction is limited to navigating to the page, which makes the bug well suited for drive-by attacks, malvertising, and watering-hole campaigns. No verified public proof-of-concept is currently available for this CVE. See the Chromium issue tracker entry for technical references.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-0291

Indicators of Compromise

• Chrome renderer (chrome.exe --type=renderer) processes spawning unexpected child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or shell binaries on macOS and Linux
• Outbound network connections from renderer processes to uncategorized or newly registered domains immediately after browsing activity
• Unexpected file writes by the Chrome renderer to user profile or temp directories
• Browser telemetry showing visits to pages serving heavily obfuscated JavaScript followed by renderer crashes

Detection Strategies

• Inventory installed Chrome versions across the fleet and flag any build below 131.0.6778.264 as vulnerable
• Hunt for renderer process anomalies including unexpected parent/child relationships and abnormal memory regions marked executable
• Correlate browser crash dumps referencing V8 frames (v8::internal::*, Builtins_*) with subsequent suspicious process activity

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable EDR telemetry for browser process trees and alert on renderer-spawned shells or LOLBins
• Forward Chrome update and version inventory data into the SIEM for continuous compliance reporting
• Monitor proxy and DNS logs for newly observed domains accessed shortly before browser exploitation indicators

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-0291

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Google Chrome to version 131.0.6778.264 or later on all Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints
• Restart Chrome after the update so the patched V8 binary is loaded by all renderer processes
• Update any embedded Chromium-based applications and browsers that consume the same V8 release
• Validate patch deployment with version inventory queries across managed endpoints

Patch Information

Google fixed CVE-2025-0291 in the Chrome stable channel update to 131.0.6778.264 for desktop. Update details are documented in the Stable Channel Update for Desktop. Chrome auto-update will deliver the patch on relaunch, but enterprise managed deployments should confirm rollout through their software distribution tooling.

Workarounds

• Block or restrict access to untrusted web content using web filtering and isolation where patching is delayed
• Enforce Chrome enterprise policies that require minimum browser versions before allowing network access
• Disable JavaScript on high-risk user populations until the update is confirmed deployed

# Verify Chrome version on Linux/macOS
google-chrome --version
# Expected output: Google Chrome 131.0.6778.264 or later

# Windows: query installed Chrome version
reg query "HKLM\Software\Google\Update\Clients\{8A69D345-D564-463C-AFF1-A69D9E530F96}" /v pv