In this article, we're going to discuss a vulnerability discovered in Google Chrome, referred to by its identifier CVE-2025-2136. This vulnerability was present in Google Chrome versions prior to 134..6998.88, where a use after free bug was found in the Inspector module. A use after free vulnerability occurs when an application attempts to use memory after it has been freed, potentially leading to code execution. The Chromium developers have assigned this vulnerability a security severity rating of medium.

The vulnerability could allow a remote attacker to exploit heap corruption through a specially crafted HTML page, thus potentially compromising user data, browser security, or even the underlying system.

Original References

The vulnerability was initially reported to Chromium in their Bug Tracker, where the original report and discussion of the bug can be found:

- Chromium Issue: https://bugs.chromium.org/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=
- CVE Details: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2025-2136

Code Snippet

Let's take a look at a simple code snippet that demonstrates this use after free vulnerability in Chrome's Inspector module:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <script>
    function triggerVulnerability() {
      let element = document.getElementById('vulnerable');
      element.outerHTML = '<input type="button" value="New Button">';
    }
  </script>
</head>
<body>
  <input type="button" id="vulnerable" value="Press Me" onmousedown="triggerVulnerability()">
</body>
</html>

The above HTML code causes the triggerVulnerability() function to execute when the button with the id attribute "vulnerable" is pressed down. The function replaces the button's content with a new input element.

When you open this page in Chrome and inspect the "Press Me" button, the use after free vulnerability is triggered when performing the outerHTML assignment while the Inspector is open.

An attacker prepares a crafted HTML page containing the vulnerable code snippet, as shown above.

2. The attacker tricks a victim into visiting the crafted page, using methods like spear phishing or other social engineering techniques.
3. Once the victim visits the page, he/she may interact with the page, triggering the vulnerability. This action could lead to heap corruption and the execution of arbitrary code.
4. The attacker may use the vulnerability to execute arbitrary code in the context of the browser, exfiltrate sensitive data, or further compromise system security.

Google Chrome's automatic update mechanics help prevent the vulnerability from affecting a large number of users. However, users running older versions of Google Chrome should update their browser to the latest version immediately to avoid potential exploitation.

Google Chrome users can mitigate the impact of this vulnerability by avoiding visiting untrusted websites and not engaging with suspicious emails or links. Keeping your browser and other software up-to-date will help minimize the risk of being affected by similar vulnerabilities.

Wrapping up

CVE-2025-2136 is an example of a use after free vulnerability in Google Chrome's Inspector module. The vulnerability affects Chrome versions prior to 134..6998.88 and has a security severity rating of medium. Although there is no known public exploit at the moment, the vulnerability could enable an attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code, compromise user data and system security. Ensure that you keep your Google Chrome browser up-to-date and remain vigilant when browsing the internet.

Timeline

Published on: 03/10/2025 21:15:40 UTC
Last modified on: 04/07/2025 18:54:29 UTC