CVE-2025-8011: Google Chrome V8 RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-8011 Overview

CVE-2025-8011 is a type confusion vulnerability in the V8 JavaScript engine used by Google Chrome versions prior to 138.0.7204.168. A remote attacker can trigger heap corruption by enticing a user to visit a crafted HTML page. Google classified the Chromium security severity as High.

The vulnerability affects Chrome on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Successful exploitation requires user interaction, specifically loading attacker-controlled web content. The flaw is tracked under [CWE-843] (Access of Resource Using Incompatible Type).

Critical Impact
Remote attackers can corrupt the V8 heap through a crafted HTML page, enabling potential arbitrary code execution within the renderer process.

Affected Products

Google Chrome prior to 138.0.7204.168
Chrome on Microsoft Windows
Chrome on Apple macOS and Linux

Discovery Timeline

2025-07-22 - CVE CVE-2025-8011 published to NVD
2025-07-22 - Google releases stable channel update for desktop
2025-09-26 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-8011

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in V8, the JavaScript and WebAssembly engine that powers Chrome. Type confusion occurs when code interprets a memory region as one type while it was allocated or initialized as another. In V8, this typically arises from incorrect assumptions made by the optimizing compiler or runtime about object shapes (hidden classes) and element kinds.

When V8 misinterprets the type of a JavaScript object, subsequent operations read or write memory using the wrong layout. Attackers convert this primitive into out-of-bounds reads and writes on the V8 heap. From there, exploitation chains commonly construct addrOf and arbitrary read/write primitives to achieve renderer code execution.

Root Cause

The root cause is a [CWE-843] type confusion defect in V8. The engine accesses a resource using an incompatible type, violating its internal invariants about object representation. The specific affected code path is restricted in the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry pending broad patch deployment.

Attack Vector

Exploitation is remote and requires user interaction. An attacker hosts a crafted HTML page containing malicious JavaScript that triggers the type confusion in V8. When a user visits the page, the renderer process executes the script and the engine misinterprets object types, producing heap corruption. The renderer sandbox limits direct system impact, but attackers commonly chain V8 bugs with sandbox escapes.

No public proof-of-concept code is available. See the Google Chrome Desktop Update advisory for vendor details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-8011

Indicators of Compromise

Chrome renderer process crashes with signatures referencing V8, turbofan, or maglev optimization tiers
Unexpected child processes spawned by chrome.exe or the renderer following web browsing activity
Outbound connections from Chrome to unfamiliar domains immediately after a crash event

Detection Strategies

Inventory Chrome installations across endpoints and flag any version below 138.0.7204.168
Monitor browser process telemetry for anomalous memory access patterns and renderer crashes correlated with specific URLs
Correlate web proxy logs with endpoint telemetry to identify users visiting suspicious pages prior to crash events

Monitoring Recommendations

Ingest Chrome crash reports and stability telemetry into the SIEM for centralized analysis
Alert on post-exploitation behaviors such as renderer processes writing executables or loading unsigned modules
Track DNS and HTTP telemetry for known malicious infrastructure delivering exploit pages

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-8011

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome to version 138.0.7204.168 or later on all Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints
Restart Chrome on every endpoint to ensure the patched binary is active, since Chrome applies updates only after relaunch
Audit Chromium-based browsers and embedded frameworks (Edge, Brave, Electron) for downstream patches incorporating the V8 fix

Patch Information

Google released the fix in the stable channel update published July 22, 2025. Administrators should deploy Chrome 138.0.7204.168 or later through enterprise update channels. Refer to the Google Chrome Desktop Update advisory for distribution details.

Workarounds

Enforce automatic Chrome updates through enterprise policy (AutoUpdateCheckPeriodMinutes) to minimize patch lag
Restrict browsing to trusted sites using URL allowlists where business workflows permit
Enable Site Isolation and ensure the renderer sandbox is not disabled via command-line flags

bash

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

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

# Verify installed Chrome version on macOS
/Applications/Google\ Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google\ Chrome --version