Google has released another emergency security update for its Chrome browser, addressing a high-severity zero-day vulnerability actively exploited in the wild. This vulnerability, CVE-2025-6554, marks the fourth Chrome zero-day fixed in 2025. It involves a type confusion flaw in Chrome’s V8 JavaScript and WebAssembly engine, which attackers exploit to compromise systems.
Vulnerability Details
The issue stems from a type confusion vulnerability in the V8 JavaScript and WebAssembly engine, which causes the program to misinterpret object types during execution. If successfully exploited, this flaw can result in arbitrary memory access, reading from and writing to memory outside the allocated buffer.
Attackers can exploit this flaw to trigger memory corruption by luring victims to maliciously crafted websites, which can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution.
This vulnerability affects Chrome across Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms and has been assigned a high severity rating by the NVD.
Impact & Exploit Potential
The consequences of this vulnerability are critical, especially since it is actively being exploited:
- Arbitrary Code Execution: Allows attackers to run unauthorized code on the victim’s device.
- Data Theft: Exploitation could expose sensitive data stored in memory.
- System Compromise: May result in complete control over the affected system.
Google has confirmed the active exploitation of CVE-2025-6554, emphasizing the urgency of applying the patch.
Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs)
This attack aligns with tactics from the MITRE ATT&CK framework:
- TA0002 – Execution: Exploiting vulnerabilities to execute malicious code.
- T1203 – Exploitation for Client Execution: Victims are tricked into visiting malicious web pages crafted to trigger the flaw.
State-sponsored actors and cybercriminal groups for espionage, spyware deployment, or surveillance campaigns often leverage such zero-days.
Affected Products
The vulnerability impacts the following versions of Google Chrome:
- Windows: Versions before 138.0.7204.96/.97
- macOS: Versions before 138.0.7204.92/.93
- Linux: Versions before 138.0.7204.96
Other Chromium-based browsers, such as Microsoft Edge, Brave, Opera, and Vivaldi, may also be affected and should be updated as soon as patches are released by their respective vendors.
Discovery and Mitigation
CVE-2025-6554 was discovered by Clément Lecigne of Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) on June 25, 2025. Google responded promptly by rolling out a configuration change to the Stable channel the following day. However, a complete fix requires users to update Chrome to the latest version manually.
To apply the update:
Navigate to Settings > Help > About Google Chrome — the browser will automatically check for and install the latest version.
Real-World Observations
This is the fourth Chrome zero-day actively exploited in 2025, following vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-2783 and CVE-2025-4664, which were used in targeted espionage campaigns.
Google TAG continues to monitor exploitation by nation-state actors targeting high-risk individuals such as journalists, political dissidents, and activists.
To limit further exploitation, Google withheld technical details until most users updated their browsers.
Instantly Fix Risks with Saner Patch Management
Saner patch management is a continuous, automated, and integrated solution that instantly remediates vulnerabilities being exploited in the wild. It supports all major platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, and over 550+ third-party applications.
- Enables safe patch testing before deployment
- Supports rollback in case of patch failure or instability
- Ensures the fastest and most accurate vulnerability remediation
Experience the fastest and most accurate patching software here