CVE-2025-0439: Google Chrome Race Condition Vulnerability

CVE-2025-0439 Overview

CVE-2025-0439 is a race condition vulnerability in the Frames component of Google Chrome versions prior to 132.0.6834.83. A remote attacker can exploit the flaw by convincing a user to perform specific user interface (UI) gestures on a crafted HTML page. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to perform UI spoofing within the browser. The issue is tracked as [CWE-362] (Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization). Chromium rates this issue as medium severity.

Critical Impact
Attackers can spoof browser UI elements to mislead users, enabling credential theft, phishing, and social engineering attacks against authenticated sessions.

Affected Products

Google Chrome versions prior to 132.0.6834.83
Chromium-based browsers sharing the same Frames component
Desktop channels across Windows, macOS, and Linux builds

Discovery Timeline

2025-01-15 - CVE-2025-0439 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-0439

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in Chrome's Frames implementation, which manages the lifecycle and rendering state of nested browsing contexts. A race condition allows an attacker-controlled page to manipulate frame state during a narrow timing window tied to user interaction. When the user performs specific gestures such as clicks or key presses, the browser processes frame updates in an order the security model does not anticipate. This mismatch enables an attacker to render or overlay content that misrepresents the true origin or context of the displayed UI.

The flaw requires user interaction, which limits automated mass exploitation. However, it can be paired with phishing lures or malvertising to significantly increase the credibility of attacker-controlled content. Because the vulnerability affects integrity of what the user sees, it is well suited to credential harvesting and consent-dialog manipulation.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper synchronization between frame state transitions and user-input handling in the renderer. Concurrent operations on shared frame resources produce a time-of-check to time-of-use gap. During this gap, the attacker page can substitute or reposition UI elements before the browser finalizes the display state.

Attack Vector

Exploitation is network-based and requires no privileges. The attacker hosts a crafted HTML page and lures the victim to visit it. The victim must perform a specific UI gesture for the race to succeed. The technical mechanics are documented in the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-0439

Indicators of Compromise

Browser sessions where users report visual inconsistencies, such as address bar contents that do not match rendered content.
Outbound connections to newly registered domains hosting HTML pages that request unusual click or keypress sequences.
Credential submissions to endpoints that do not match the apparent origin displayed to the user.

Detection Strategies

Inventory installed Chrome versions across managed endpoints and flag any build earlier than 132.0.6834.83.
Correlate web proxy logs with phishing feeds to identify visits to pages hosting suspicious iframe-heavy content.
Monitor endpoint telemetry for Chrome processes rendering pages that combine cross-origin frames with scripted focus manipulation.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable browser version reporting through enterprise management to track patch compliance.
Alert on user reports of suspected phishing where a Chromium-based browser was in use.
Integrate URL reputation feeds with DNS and proxy logs for early identification of spoofing infrastructure.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-0439

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome to version 132.0.6834.83 or later on all managed endpoints.
Force-restart Chrome processes after deployment so the patched binary loads.
Push updated policies to Chromium-based browsers such as Microsoft Edge and Brave once vendor builds incorporate the upstream fix.

Patch Information

Google released the fix in the stable channel update announced in the Google Chrome Desktop Update. Administrators should validate the deployed version reports 132.0.6834.83 or higher via chrome://version.

Workarounds

Restrict browsing to trusted sites through enterprise URL allow-lists until patching completes.
Deliver user awareness guidance warning against performing prompted click sequences on unfamiliar pages.
Enable Enhanced Safe Browsing to increase detection of phishing pages that could host exploit content.

bash

# Verify installed Chrome version on Linux endpoints
google-chrome --version

# Windows: query the installed version via registry
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\BLBeacon" /v version

# macOS: read the bundle version
defaults read "/Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/Info.plist" CFBundleShortVersionString