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Google has just pushed out an urgent security update for its Chrome browser to address a critical vulnerability that could allow hackers to hijack accounts. The newly discovered flaw, now identified as CVE-2025-4664, has drawn immediate concern because it has a working exploit circulating in the wild — signaling it could already be in use by cybercriminals. The company wasted no time, rolling out the patch globally for Windows, Linux, and macOS users.
Chrome Users at Risk:
Google has released an emergency update for its Chrome browser to patch a serious security hole flagged as CVE-2025-4664. The vulnerability was uncovered by security researcher Vsevolod Kokorin from Solidlab and involves Chrome’s Loader component. Essentially, this flaw allows attackers to leak cross-origin data by tricking users into loading malicious HTML pages. By exploiting the way Chrome handles the Link header and referrer-policy settings, hackers can intercept sensitive data embedded in URLs — including credentials in OAuth flows. This creates a real threat of full account takeovers.
Although Google hasn’t confirmed if this flaw has been actively exploited, the presence of a public exploit typically signals ongoing attacks. This makes the patch not just important but urgent. The update has been released under version 136.0.7103.113 for Windows and Linux, and version 136.0.7103.114 for macOS. These updates are being gradually rolled out, but users can manually check for and apply the fix immediately.
This isn’t the first Chrome vulnerability this year. In March, Google also patched CVE-2025-2783 — a zero-day bug that was exploited in espionage campaigns against Russian entities. That bug allowed attackers to bypass Chrome’s sandbox and deliver malware, highlighting the high-stakes nature of browser security today.
Last year, Chrome had to contend with at least 10 zero-days — many disclosed during hacking competitions like Pwn2Own or found being exploited in the wild. These frequent attacks reveal how browsers have become a prime target for hackers, especially as they often serve as a gateway to personal accounts, corporate data, and cloud-based tools.
What Undercode Say:
This latest Chrome emergency patch exposes just how critical browser security has become in the digital age. CVE-2025-4664 strikes at the heart of web security — exploiting one of Chrome’s fundamental behaviors to harvest sensitive user data. The flaw lies in Chrome’s ability to resolve Link headers in subresource requests and apply custom referrer policies. While this functionality is useful for developers, it can be weaponized to leak query parameters from URLs.
Why is that dangerous? Query parameters often contain tokens, session IDs, and other sensitive data, especially during OAuth-based logins. If an attacker manages to inject or trick a user into loading a malicious image or HTML element from a third-party site, they could silently steal this information. Given how widespread OAuth is for logging into services using Google, Facebook, or Microsoft accounts, this vulnerability opens the door to full account takeovers without the user even realizing it.
Kokorin’s discovery shines a light on how certain browser design decisions, though technically valid, can be abused in specific contexts. His ability to uncover this via routine behavior like image loading demonstrates the complexity of modern security threats — they don’t always rely on flashy malware, but rather, clever exploitation of design flaws.
The timing of the fix is crucial. With Google acknowledging a public exploit already exists, there’s a race between attackers exploiting the flaw and users applying the patch. This again underscores the importance of regularly updating software — especially browsers, which are used daily to access sensitive platforms like banking, email, and work systems.
This vulnerability also adds to the growing list of Chrome security issues being discovered. While it’s a testament to the platform’s popularity, it’s also a reminder of how attractive a target it is for hackers. Chrome’s massive market share means any flaw discovered could affect hundreds of millions of users.
Security researchers and ethical hackers like Kokorin are doing vital work in this space. Without responsible disclosure and swift patches from Google, the fallout could be massive. The company’s security response, in this case, has been swift, but the responsibility also lies with users to stay updated.
As for developers, this is another wake-up call to review how their sites handle query parameters, third-party content, and cross-origin requests. The best defense is layered: patch quickly, validate inputs, and monitor behaviors.
Fact Checker Results:
✅ Google confirmed the existence of CVE-2025-4664 and released immediate updates
✅ The flaw involves Chrome’s Loader component and affects referrer-policy behavior
✅ A public exploit is available, implying active or imminent exploitation by attackers 🛡️🔍⚠️
Prediction:
As browser security becomes increasingly complex, we can expect more zero-day vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-4664 to surface, especially ones exploiting nuanced browser behavior. Attackers are shifting from traditional malware to more silent, web-based data exfiltration techniques. In response, Google will likely harden Chrome’s internal policy enforcement and may even revise how referrer policies and headers are managed. Expect faster patch cycles, more automated updates, and stricter sandboxing features in upcoming Chrome releases.
References:
Reported By: www.bleepingcomputer.com
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