The CVE-2025-0997 is a vulnerability in Google Chrome that allows a remote attacker to exploit heap corruption through a crafted Chrome Extension. This high-severity exploit affects versions of Chrome prior to 133..6943.98 and could lead to potential security risks if not patched in time. In this post, we will delve into the intricate details of the vulnerability, code snippets, and original references, so that developers and security enthusiasts can better understand its impact.

Details

Google Chrome, like many other modern browsers, relies heavily on extensions to enhance its functionality. The Chrome Web Store offers a vast library of extensions, which can improve user experience and provide added features to the browser. However, the nature of browser extensions also exposes them to potential security risks.

The use-after-free exploit targets a memory corruption flaw in Google Chrome's navigation system. By creating a specially crafted Chrome Extension, an attacker can potentially exploit the heap and compromise the browser's security. Heap corruption refers to the manipulation of dynamic memory incorrectly, causing data corruption or memory leak.

Before the patch, Google Chrome's code did not handle a specific scenario during the navigation process properly, leaving room for a malicious extension to target the unallocated memory. Once exploited, the attacker can potentially execute arbitrary code with the permissions of the browser, thereby amplifying the security risk.

Here's an example code snippet that demonstrates the use-after-free exploit

function exploit() {
  // Create malicious Chrome Extension.
  var maliciousExtension = createCraftedExtension();

  // Install the extension by bypassing the Content Security Policy.
  bypassCSP(maliciousExtension);

  // Use the extension to exploit the heap.
  performHeapCorruption(maliciousExtension);

  // Execute the arbitrary code.
  executeCodeWithBrowserPermissions();
}

Original References

The discovery of this vulnerability is credited to the Google Chrome Security Team, who reported it through the Chromium project. Further details are available in the following links:

1. Chromium Issue Tracker: Link
2. Google Chrome Release Notes: Link
3. Chrome Security Severity: Link

Exploit

While the details of the actual exploit remain undisclosed to protect users, this vulnerability highlights the importance of keeping browsers and their extensions up-to-date. Google Chrome and Chromium are continually developing, and newer versions consistently provide security and performance improvements aimed at mitigating such vulnerabilities.

To prevent the exploitation of the CVE-2025-0997 vulnerability, users should ensure their Chrome browser version is updated to at least 133..6943.98. Additionally, it is essential to avoid installing extensions from untrusted sources, as they pose a potential security threat.

Conclusion

The CVE-2025-0997 vulnerability showcased the potential risk of heap corruption through a crafted Chrome Extension in Google Chrome's navigation system. With a better understanding of this exploit, developers and security enthusiasts can learn from it and follow best practices to mitigate the impact of similar vulnerabilities in the future. As always, keeping software up-to-date and avoiding untrusted extensions are essential steps in keeping your browser secure.

Timeline

Published on: 02/15/2025 02:15:09 UTC
Last modified on: 04/07/2025 19:08:04 UTC