CVE-2025-0997: Google Chrome Use-After-Free Vulnerability

CVE-2025-0997 Overview

CVE-2025-0997 is a Use After Free vulnerability in the Navigation component of Google Chrome prior to version 133.0.6943.98. This memory corruption flaw allows a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted Chrome Extension. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management in Chrome's navigation handling, where memory can be accessed after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior and potential code execution.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit heap corruption through malicious Chrome Extensions, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution, data theft, or browser compromise.

Affected Products

• Google Chrome versions prior to 133.0.6943.98

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-02-15 - CVE-2025-0997 published to NVD
• 2025-04-07 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-0997

Vulnerability Analysis

This Use After Free (CWE-416) vulnerability exists within Chrome's Navigation component. Use After Free conditions occur when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it references has been deallocated. In this case, the Navigation component improperly manages memory during certain operations, allowing an attacker to manipulate freed memory through a specially crafted Chrome Extension.

The exploitation requires user interaction, specifically the installation or activation of a malicious extension. Once triggered, the vulnerability can lead to heap corruption, which attackers can leverage to achieve arbitrary code execution within the context of the browser process. This could result in unauthorized access to sensitive user data, session hijacking, or further system compromise.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-0997 lies in improper memory lifecycle management within Chrome's Navigation component. When navigation-related objects are destroyed, references to the freed memory may still exist elsewhere in the codebase. A malicious Chrome Extension can trigger code paths that access these dangling pointers, causing the browser to read from or write to memory that has been reallocated for other purposes.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based and requires user interaction. An attacker must convince a victim to install a crafted Chrome Extension that contains malicious code designed to trigger the Use After Free condition. The attack scenario typically involves:

1. The attacker creates a malicious Chrome Extension that appears legitimate
2. The victim installs the extension, either from a compromised source or through social engineering
3. The extension triggers specific navigation operations that exploit the memory management flaw
4. The attacker gains the ability to corrupt heap memory and potentially execute arbitrary code

The vulnerability mechanism involves triggering specific navigation events that cause memory to be freed while references to that memory still exist. For technical details on the specific code paths involved, refer to the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-0997

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected browser crashes or instability, particularly during navigation operations
• Presence of unknown or suspicious Chrome Extensions installed without user knowledge
• Anomalous memory access patterns in Chrome processes detected by endpoint protection
• Browser process attempting to access unexpected system resources or network connections

Detection Strategies

• Monitor Chrome extension installations and flag any extensions from unverified or suspicious sources
• Implement endpoint detection rules to identify heap corruption attempts in browser processes
• Use browser security policies to restrict extension installations to approved sources only
• Deploy network monitoring to detect communication from browser processes to known malicious infrastructure

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable Chrome Enterprise logging to track extension installations and browser crashes
• Configure SIEM rules to correlate browser crash events with recent extension activity
• Monitor for unusual child process spawning from Chrome browser processes
• Implement application allowlisting for Chrome Extensions in enterprise environments

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-0997

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Google Chrome to version 133.0.6943.98 or later immediately
• Audit all installed Chrome Extensions and remove any that are unnecessary or from untrusted sources
• Enable automatic updates for Google Chrome to receive future security patches promptly
• Review Chrome security settings and restrict extension permissions where possible

Patch Information

Google has addressed this vulnerability in Chrome version 133.0.6943.98. The fix corrects the memory management issues in the Navigation component to prevent Use After Free conditions. Organizations should prioritize this update as the vulnerability carries a high severity rating.

For detailed information about the security update, refer to the Google Chrome Update Announcement.

Workarounds

• Disable or remove all non-essential Chrome Extensions until the patch can be applied
• Implement Chrome Enterprise policies to restrict extension installations to a curated allowlist
• Consider using Chrome's Enhanced Safe Browsing mode for additional protection against malicious content
• Deploy network-level controls to block access to known malicious extension distribution sites

# Chrome Enterprise Policy Configuration for Extension Restrictions
# Add to Chrome Enterprise policy file or Group Policy

# Block all extensions except those explicitly allowed
ExtensionInstallBlocklist: ["*"]

# Allow only specific trusted extensions (replace with your organization's approved IDs)
ExtensionInstallAllowlist: ["extension_id_1", "extension_id_2"]

# Force install critical security extensions
ExtensionInstallForcelist: ["approved_security_extension_id"]

# Disable developer mode for standard users
DeveloperToolsAvailability: 2