Google recently released an urgent update for its Chrome browser to address a critical security vulnerability, CVE-2025-0995. This flaw, categorized as a “Use-After-Free” vulnerability in Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine, could allow attackers to execute malicious code remotely on affected systems. Discovered and reported by security researcher Popax21 on January 24, 2025, the vulnerability was patched in the latest stable versions of Chrome, including 133.0.6943.98/.99 for Windows and Mac, and 133.0.6943.98 for Linux. Google strongly urges users to update their browsers immediately to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
The Chrome security team emphasized that the technical details of the vulnerability would remain restricted until most users had applied the patch.
This precautionary step ensures that threat actors cannot exploit the flaw before users are protected. In addition, the update addresses several other high-severity vulnerabilities, including CVE-2025-0996, CVE-2025-0997, and CVE-2025-0998, all of which were discovered by external researchers and pose significant risks to user safety. CVE-2025-0996 involves an inappropriate implementation in the browser UI, while CVE-2025-0997 targets the navigation components of Chrome.
Google expressed gratitude to the security researchers who helped identify and mitigate these vulnerabilities. The company also highlighted the role of advanced detection tools such as AddressSanitizer, MemorySanitizer, and libFuzzer in proactively identifying and addressing security threats. The update underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software to protect users from evolving cybersecurity risks. It is strongly recommended that all users update their browsers to the latest version without delay.
For those looking to update Chrome, users can navigate to the “Settings” section of the browser, select “About Chrome,” and check for the latest updates. This critical update is a reminder of the ongoing need for vigilance in software maintenance and security. Keeping software up to date is essential in minimizing exposure to potential threats and ensuring a safer browsing experience.
