CISA Warns: Chromium 0-Day Vulnerability Exploited in Active Attacks (CVE-2025-14174)

CISA Warns: Chromium 0-Day Vulnerability Exploited in Active Attacks (CVE-2025-14174)

December 13, 2025. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added a critical zero-day vulnerability in Google Chromium's ANGLE graphics engine to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. Tracked as CVE-2025-14174, this flaw allows attackers to execute arbitrary code simply by tricking users into visiting a malicious webpage—no downloads, no clicks, just visiting the page.

Recent Developments

• CISA added CVE-2025-14174 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on December 13, 2025, indicating active exploitation in the wild[1][2].
• The vulnerability affects Chromium's ANGLE (Almost Native Graphics Layer Engine) graphics engine, allowing out-of-bounds memory access via malicious HTML pages[1][3].
• Google released patches on December 10, 2025, updating Chrome to version 131.0.6778.201 and Microsoft Edge to 131.0.3139.95[4][5].
• CISA mandates federal agencies apply mitigations by January 2, 2026, or discontinue use of affected products per Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 22-01[1][6].
• The National Vulnerability Database (NVD) rates CVE-2025-14174 as high severity (CVSS v3.1 score: 8.8) with remote code execution risks[1][3].
• This vulnerability affects all Chromium-based browsers, including Chrome, Edge, Opera, Brave, and Vivaldi, representing over 70% of desktop browser market share[1][7].

This is not a theoretical threat. It's being actively exploited right now.

CVE-2025-14174 represents one of the most dangerous types of browser vulnerabilities: a drive-by exploit that requires no user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website. Unlike phishing attacks that require clicking a link or downloading a file, this vulnerability can be triggered simply by loading a malicious HTML page—making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where users browse the web as part of their daily work.

But here's what most security advisories won't tell you: This vulnerability bypasses Chromium's sandbox protections in certain scenarios, potentially allowing attackers to escape browser isolation and execute code on the underlying system. For businesses, this means a single employee visiting a compromised website could lead to full network compromise. Our security audit service can help identify vulnerable browsers and implement proper patch management.

Table of Contents

• Quick Summary: CVE-2025-14174 at a Glance
• What is ANGLE and Why Does It Matter?
• Vulnerability Details: How CVE-2025-14174 Works
• Attack Scenarios: How Attackers Exploit This Flaw
• Affected Browsers: Complete List
• Patch Information: How to Update
• CISA Directive: What Federal Agencies Must Do
• Business Impact: Why This Matters for Organizations
• Mitigation Steps: Immediate Actions Required
• Detection & Monitoring: How to Identify Exploitation
• Chromium Threat Landscape: The Bigger Picture
• Best Practices: Long-Term Browser Security
• Frequently Asked Questions

What is ANGLE and Why Does It Matter?

The Problem: Different operating systems and graphics drivers support different graphics APIs. Windows uses DirectX, macOS uses Metal, Linux uses OpenGL. This fragmentation makes it difficult for web browsers to provide consistent graphics performance across platforms.

The Solution: ANGLE (Almost Native Graphics Layer Engine) is Chromium's abstraction layer that translates OpenGL ES (used by web standards like WebGL) into the native graphics API of each platform. It's essentially a translation layer that makes web graphics work consistently across Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile platforms.

Why ANGLE is Critical

ANGLE is deeply integrated into Chromium's rendering pipeline. Every time a webpage uses WebGL, Canvas 2D, or other graphics features, ANGLE is involved. This means:

• High attack surface: ANGLE processes untrusted web content constantly
• Low-level access: Graphics operations require direct memory access
• Complex codebase: Translation between graphics APIs is inherently complex
• Performance critical: Graphics operations must be fast, limiting security checks

The Security Challenge

ANGLE's role as a graphics translation layer makes it a prime target for attackers because:

• It processes untrusted input: WebGL shaders and graphics commands come from web pages
• It has low-level memory access: Graphics operations require direct memory manipulation
• It's complex: Translation between different graphics APIs introduces edge cases
• It's performance-critical: Security checks can't significantly impact rendering speed

Vulnerability Details: How CVE-2025-14174 Works

The Flaw: CVE-2025-14174 is an out-of-bounds memory access vulnerability in ANGLE's OpenGL ES interface layer. The vulnerability occurs when ANGLE processes certain graphics commands without properly validating array bounds, allowing attackers to read or write memory outside of allocated buffers.

Technical Breakdown

The vulnerability exists in ANGLE's bounds checking logic. When processing graphics commands from a webpage, ANGLE must validate that array indices and buffer offsets are within valid ranges. CVE-2025-14174 occurs when this validation fails, allowing:

• Out-of-bounds read: Accessing memory beyond allocated buffers (information disclosure)
• Out-of-bounds write: Writing to memory beyond allocated buffers (memory corruption)
• Arbitrary code execution: Memory corruption can be leveraged to execute attacker-controlled code

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit CVE-2025-14174 by crafting a malicious HTML page that:

1. Loads WebGL content: Triggers ANGLE's graphics processing
2. Provides malformed graphics commands: Sends commands that trigger the bounds checking flaw
3. Exploits memory corruption: Uses out-of-bounds access to corrupt memory
4. Executes payload: Leverages memory corruption to execute arbitrary code

Why This is Particularly Dangerous

• No user interaction required: Simply loading the page triggers the exploit
• Bypasses some sandbox protections: Graphics operations have privileged access
• Silent exploitation: Users may not notice anything unusual
• Wide attack surface: Any website can potentially host the exploit

Attack Scenarios: How Attackers Exploit This Flaw

Scenario 1: Malicious Advertising (Malvertising)

Attackers inject malicious code into legitimate advertising networks. When users visit trusted websites, the malicious ads load in the background, triggering the exploit without the user's knowledge.

• Target: High-traffic websites with advertising
• Method: Compromise ad network or inject malicious ads
• Impact: Mass exploitation of visitors to legitimate sites
• Detection: Difficult—exploit runs silently in background

Scenario 2: Compromised Websites

Attackers compromise legitimate websites (through vulnerabilities, weak passwords, or supply chain attacks) and inject malicious HTML that triggers the exploit when visitors load the page.

• Target: Any website with security weaknesses
• Method: Website compromise + exploit injection
• Impact: All visitors to compromised site are at risk
• Detection: Website owners may not notice injection

Scenario 3: Phishing Campaigns

Attackers send phishing emails with links to malicious websites. When victims click the link, the exploit triggers immediately upon page load.

• Target: Email recipients
• Method: Phishing email + malicious website
• Impact: Targeted exploitation of specific individuals
• Detection: Users may notice suspicious email, but exploit runs before they can react

Scenario 4: Watering Hole Attacks

Attackers identify websites frequented by their targets (industry-specific sites, professional forums, etc.) and compromise those sites to serve the exploit to their intended victims.

• Target: Specific industries or organizations
• Method: Compromise frequently-visited websites
• Impact: Targeted exploitation of specific groups
• Detection: Difficult—sites appear legitimate

Potential Attack Outcomes

Once the exploit is successful, attackers can:

• Install malware: Deploy ransomware, trojans, or other malicious software
• Steal credentials: Capture passwords, session tokens, and authentication cookies
• Espionage: Exfiltrate sensitive data from the compromised system
• Lateral movement: Use compromised system to attack other systems on the network
• Cryptocurrency mining: Install cryptominers to generate revenue

Affected Browsers: Complete List

CVE-2025-14174 affects all browsers built on the Chromium engine. Here's the complete list:

Market Share Impact

Chromium-based browsers represent over 70% of desktop browser market share, meaning this vulnerability affects the majority of internet users. This widespread impact makes it a high-value target for attackers.

Patch Information: How to Update

Google Chrome

Microsoft Edge

Other Chromium Browsers

For Opera, Brave, Vivaldi, and other Chromium-based browsers:

• Check the browser's official website for security updates
• Enable automatic updates if available
• Manually check for updates through the browser's settings menu
• Contact vendor support if updates are not immediately available

Enable Automatic Updates

To ensure you're always protected against future vulnerabilities:

• Chrome: Automatic updates are enabled by default
• Edge: Automatic updates are enabled by default
• Enterprise: Configure update policies through Group Policy or MDM solutions

CISA Directive: What Federal Agencies Must Do

CISA has issued Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 22-01, which mandates specific actions for Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies.

Mandatory Requirements

• Deadline: January 2, 2026
• Action: Apply security updates to patch CVE-2025-14174
• Alternative: Discontinue use of affected products if patching is not possible
• Scope: All federal systems, including cloud services

Why CISA's Directive Matters

While BOD 22-01 specifically applies to federal agencies, it serves as a critical indicator of vulnerability severity. When CISA adds a vulnerability to the KEV catalog and issues a binding directive, it means:

• Active exploitation confirmed: CISA only adds vulnerabilities to KEV when exploitation is confirmed
• High severity: The vulnerability poses significant risk to critical infrastructure
• Urgent action required: Immediate patching is necessary to prevent compromise
• Widespread impact: The vulnerability affects systems across multiple agencies

Business Impact: Why This Matters for Organizations

Immediate Risks

• Drive-by exploitation: Employees browsing the web can be compromised without any action
• Mass compromise: A single malicious website can affect multiple employees
• Network infiltration: Compromised browsers can be used to attack internal networks
• Data exfiltration: Attackers can steal credentials, session tokens, and sensitive data

Long-Term Consequences

• Regulatory compliance: Unpatched vulnerabilities can violate GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and other regulations
• Reputation damage: Security breaches harm customer trust and brand reputation
• Financial losses: Ransomware, data breaches, and recovery costs can be substantial
• Legal liability: Failure to patch known vulnerabilities can result in legal action

Industry-Specific Concerns

Mitigation Steps: Immediate Actions Required

1. Update All Browsers Immediately

This is the most critical step. Update all Chromium-based browsers to patched versions:

• Chrome: 131.0.6778.201 or higher
• Edge: 131.0.3139.95 or higher
• Other Chromium browsers: Check vendor channels

2. Enable Automatic Updates

Ensure automatic updates are enabled for all browsers to receive future security patches promptly.

3. Scan for Unpatched Browsers

Use endpoint management tools to identify systems with unpatched browsers:

• Active Directory Group Policy
• Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions
• Endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools
• Network scanning tools

4. Implement Browser Security Policies

• Restrict access to untrusted websites
• Enable browser security features (sandboxing, site isolation)
• Implement web content filtering
• Use browser extensions for additional security

5. Monitor for Anomalous Activity

Watch for signs of exploitation:

• Unexpected browser crashes (especially during rendering)
• Unusual network traffic from browser processes
• Suspicious file downloads or executions
• Unauthorized access attempts

6. Educate Users

Inform employees about:

• The importance of keeping browsers updated
• Risks of visiting untrusted websites
• Signs of potential compromise
• Reporting procedures for security incidents

Detection & Monitoring: How to Identify Exploitation

Indicators of Compromise (IoCs)

While no public IoCs have been released for CVE-2025-14174, watch for:

• Browser crashes: Unexpected crashes during page rendering
• Memory anomalies: Unusual memory usage by browser processes
• Network traffic: Unexpected outbound connections from browser
• Process execution: New processes spawned from browser processes
• File modifications: Unexpected file creation or modification

Monitoring Tools

• SIEM systems: Centralized log analysis and correlation
• EDR solutions: Endpoint detection and response
• Network monitoring: Traffic analysis and anomaly detection
• Browser security extensions: Real-time threat detection

Log Analysis

Review browser and system logs for:

• Browser crash reports
• Memory access violations
• Unexpected process terminations
• Suspicious network connections

Chromium Threat Landscape: The Bigger Picture

Zero-Day Trends in 2025

CVE-2025-14174 is part of a concerning trend of Chromium zero-day vulnerabilities in 2025. According to security researchers, this marks at least the sixth Chrome zero-day actively exploited this year, highlighting the persistent targeting of browser vulnerabilities by attackers.

Why Chromium is a Target

• Market dominance: Over 70% of desktop browsers use Chromium
• Complex codebase: Millions of lines of code create many attack surfaces
• High-value target: Compromising browsers provides access to user data and systems
• Frequent updates: New features introduce new vulnerabilities

Attack Sophistication

Modern browser exploits are increasingly sophisticated:

• Multi-stage attacks: Combining multiple vulnerabilities for maximum impact
• Sandbox escape: Bypassing browser security isolation
• Persistence mechanisms: Maintaining access after initial compromise
• Evasion techniques: Avoiding detection by security tools

Best Practices: Long-Term Browser Security

1. Maintain Patch Management

• Implement automated patch deployment
• Establish patch testing procedures
• Monitor patch compliance across all systems
• Maintain an inventory of all browsers in use

2. Implement Defense in Depth

• Use multiple layers of security controls
• Deploy web content filtering
• Enable browser security features
• Use endpoint protection solutions

3. Regular Security Assessments

• Conduct regular vulnerability scans
• Perform security audits
• Review browser security configurations
• Assess third-party browser extensions

4. User Education

• Train users on safe browsing practices
• Educate about phishing and social engineering
• Promote security awareness
• Encourage reporting of suspicious activity

5. Incident Response Planning

• Develop incident response procedures
• Establish communication protocols
• Prepare containment strategies
• Practice response scenarios

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion: Act Now, Not Later

CVE-2025-14174 is not a theoretical vulnerability—it's being actively exploited in the wild right now. The fact that CISA has added it to the KEV catalog and issued a binding directive for federal agencies underscores the severity of this threat.

For businesses, this vulnerability represents a significant risk. A single employee visiting a compromised website could lead to full network compromise, data theft, or ransomware deployment. The drive-by nature of this exploit means users don't need to do anything wrong—they just need to visit the wrong website.

Our recommendation: Update all Chromium-based browsers immediately. Don't wait for your next maintenance window. Don't wait for user convenience. This is a security emergency that requires immediate action.

If you're a business owner concerned about browser security and patch management, our security audit service can help identify vulnerable systems and implement proper security controls. We can also help with maintenance plans that include automated patch management and security monitoring.

Last updated: December 13, 2025
CVE ID: CVE-2025-14174
CVSS Score: 8.8 (High)
Status: Actively exploited in the wild
CISA Deadline: January 2, 2026 (federal agencies)
Patch Available: Yes (December 10, 2025)