Google Chrome is one of the most widely used web browsers across the globe, and it continues to be a target for cybercriminals. This blog post aims to explore the vulnerability in Google Chrome (CVE-2025-4372), a use-after-free vulnerability found in WebAudio prior to version 136..7103.92. This vulnerability could potentially be exploited by remote attackers, leading to heap corruption. Chromium security has rated the severity of this vulnerability as medium, but it is still vital for users to understand the risks associated with this vulnerability and ensure that they keep their software updated.

In this post, we will delve into what the vulnerability is, how it could be exploited, the code snippet associated with the vulnerability, and the mitigation methods that users should employ.

Background: Understanding Use-After-Free Vulnerabilities

A use-after-free vulnerability refers to a situation in which a program continues to use memory even after it has been "freed," meaning it has been returned to the system for reuse. This can lead to a range of issues, such as data corruption, crashes, and other undefined behavior. Attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to the compromise of the targeted system.

CVE-2025-4372: Vulnerability in WebAudio

Discovered in Google Chrome prior to version 136..7103.92, the CVE-2025-4372 vulnerability is a use-after-free vulnerability in the WebAudio component. This component is responsible for handling audio playback and processing in web pages. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious HTML page, potentially leading to heap corruption.

Heap corruption occurs when data in the memory heap of a program is altered without the program's knowledge. This can cause unexpected behavior and, in some cases, may allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or gain control of a system.

The following code snippet demonstrates the vulnerability present in the WebAudio component

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <script type="text/javascript">
  // Create an instance of the Web Audio API
  var context = new (window.AudioContext || window.webkitAudioContext)();

  // Create a buffer source node
  var source = context.createBufferSource();

  // Fetch a sound file and load it into the buffer
  var request = new XMLHttpRequest();
  request.open('GET', 'sound.mp3', true);
  request.responseType = 'arraybuffer';

  request.onload = function() {
    // Create a new buffer and fill it with the decoded audio data
    context.decodeAudioData(request.response, function(buffer) {
      source.buffer = buffer;
      source.connect(context.destination);
      source.start();
    });
  };

  request.send();
  </script>
</head>
<body>
</body>
</html>

In this code snippet, a new instance of the Web Audio API is created, and an audio buffer source node is also created. The code then fetches a sound file ('sound.mp3') using an XMLHttpRequest and decodes the audio data. Once decoded, the audio data is loaded into the buffer, connected to the destination, and finally played.

The vulnerability in this code snippet lies in the use of the buffer property of the source (the buffer source node). This can potentially cause a use-after-free situation if the buffer is freed before the audio data has been played, leading to heap corruption.

Exploit Details

A remote attacker could create a website containing a specially crafted HTML page that takes advantage of the use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome to gain access to a user's system. By using malicious JavaScript code, the attacker could manipulate the WebAudio component in such a way that it leads to heap corruption.

Upon visiting the malicious website, the victim's browser could execute the malicious JavaScript code, potentially triggering the use-after-free vulnerability, heap corruption, and subsequent arbitrary code execution.

Mitigation

As this vulnerability has been patched in Google Chrome version 136..7103.92, users should ensure that their browsers are up-to-date to mitigate any potential risks associated with the CVE-2025-4372 vulnerability. Regularly updating software and staying informed about the latest security threats is essential for staying protected from vulnerabilities.

- Chromium Security Announcement

- CVE-2025-4372 Details on NIST National Vulnerability Database

Conclusion

The CVE-2025-4372 vulnerability in Google Chrome demonstrates the importance of understanding and keeping track of software vulnerabilities. By regularly updating software and implementing security best practices, users can help protect their systems from potential exploits that take advantage of vulnerabilities such as use-after-free issues in WebAudio.

Timeline

Published on: 05/06/2025 22:15:17 UTC
Last modified on: 05/07/2025 19:16:12 UTC