CVE-2025-0612: Google Chrome Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2025-0612 Overview

CVE-2025-0612 is an out-of-bounds memory access vulnerability in the V8 JavaScript engine used by Google Chrome. The flaw affects Chrome versions prior to 132.0.6834.110. A remote attacker can trigger heap corruption by serving a crafted HTML page to a target browser. Google classifies the Chromium security severity as High and tracks the underlying weakness as CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read.

The vulnerability requires no authentication and no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious page. Exploitation primarily impacts browser availability, though heap corruption in V8 has historically served as a foothold for further memory safety attacks.

Critical Impact
Remote attackers can corrupt heap memory in the V8 engine through a single crafted HTML page, leading to browser crashes or potential follow-on memory corruption attacks.

Affected Products

Google Chrome versions prior to 132.0.6834.110 on Desktop
Chromium-based browsers integrating the vulnerable V8 build
Embedded applications shipping the affected V8 engine

Discovery Timeline

2025-01-22 - CVE-2025-0612 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2025-01-22 - Google publishes the Stable Channel Update for Desktop
2025-04-18 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-0612

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability lives in V8, the JavaScript and WebAssembly engine that powers Chrome. V8 compiles JavaScript into machine code through several optimization tiers and manages object layouts in a garbage-collected heap. An out-of-bounds memory access in this context means the engine reads or writes outside the intended bounds of a heap-allocated buffer or object.

When V8 mishandles bounds during compilation, optimization, or runtime execution, attacker-controlled JavaScript can steer the engine into accessing adjacent memory. This corrupts heap metadata or object fields, destabilizing the renderer process. The Chromium issue tracker entry 385155406 tracks the underlying defect, though access remains restricted pending broad patch adoption.

The public description confirms the impact path is heap corruption reachable through HTML content. The CVSS impact profile reflects an availability-only outcome, consistent with renderer crashes rather than confirmed code execution. However, V8 heap corruption bugs frequently chain with sandbox escapes in real-world exploitation.

Root Cause

The root cause is classified as CWE-125, an out-of-bounds read in V8. Such defects typically stem from missing or incorrect bounds checks during typed array operations, JIT-emitted code, or object property access. Google has not published source-level details to protect users still applying the patch.

Attack Vector

An attacker hosts a crafted HTML page containing JavaScript that exercises the vulnerable V8 code path. When a victim using a vulnerable Chrome build visits the page, the renderer process accesses memory outside expected bounds. No credentials, prompts, or local access are required. Delivery channels include phishing links, compromised websites, and malicious advertisements served through ad networks.

No verified proof-of-concept code is published. The vulnerability mechanism should be reviewed via the Chromium security advisory and the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry when access is granted.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-0612

Indicators of Compromise

Repeated Chrome renderer process crashes with SIGSEGV or STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION exit codes on endpoints running Chrome below 132.0.6834.110
Unexpected child process creation from chrome.exe following visits to untrusted web content
Chrome crash dumps referencing V8 modules such as v8.dll or compiled JIT regions

Detection Strategies

Inventory installed Chrome versions across managed endpoints and flag any build below 132.0.6834.110
Correlate browser crash telemetry with web proxy logs to identify URLs preceding renderer failures
Monitor EDR telemetry for anomalous process behavior originating from browser renderer processes, including unexpected memory allocations or module loads

Monitoring Recommendations

Ingest Chrome browser version data and crash events into a central data lake or SIEM for correlation
Alert on repeated renderer crashes from the same user or after navigation to newly registered domains
Track outbound traffic patterns from browser processes for signs of post-exploitation activity such as unusual DNS queries or beaconing

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-0612

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome to version 132.0.6834.110 or later on all Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints
Restart Chrome after the update so the patched V8 engine is loaded into all running renderer processes
Audit Chromium-based applications and embedded WebViews for vendor patches incorporating the fixed V8 build

Patch Information

Google released the fix in the Chrome Stable channel update published on January 22, 2025. Apply version 132.0.6834.110 or later, as documented in the Stable Channel Update for Desktop. Enterprises using Chrome Browser Cloud Management or Group Policy should force-update managed installations and confirm rollout status through the admin console.

Workarounds

Restrict browsing to trusted sites through enterprise web filtering until patches are deployed
Enable Chrome's Site Isolation and Enhanced Safe Browsing to reduce the blast radius of renderer compromise
Block newly registered or low-reputation domains at the proxy or DNS layer to limit exposure to malicious HTML payloads

bash

# Verify Chrome version on Linux/macOS endpoints
google-chrome --version

# Windows registry check for installed Chrome version
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\BLBeacon" /v version

# Group Policy: force minimum Chrome version via Chrome Enterprise policy
# Set TargetVersionPrefix to 132.0.6834.110