Google Sounds Alarm: Critical Chrome Vulnerability Being Actively Exploited
Google has released an emergency security update for its Chrome browser after confirming that cybercriminals are actively exploiting a critical vulnerability in the wild. The tech giant has issued an urgent warning to all desktop users worldwide, including millions in India, to update their browsers immediately as the security threat continues to escalate.
The company confirmed that exploits for CVE-2025-13223 are already being used in real-world attacks, making this one of the most serious browser security threats discovered this year. Indian users, who form one of the largest Chrome user bases globally, are particularly vulnerable if they fail to apply the patch promptly.
Understanding the Critical Vulnerability
The security flaw, classified as a "Type Confusion in V8" vulnerability, was discovered by Google's elite Threat Analysis Group on November 12, 2025. This high-severity flaw affects Chrome versions prior to 142.0.7444.175 and poses significant risks to user security.
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), this dangerous vulnerability allows remote attackers to potentially exploit heap corruption through specially crafted HTML pages. Such security weaknesses typically enable hackers to destabilize systems, execute malicious code, steal sensitive personal and financial information, or install harmful software on targeted devices.
Security experts warn that these types of vulnerabilities can be particularly dangerous because attackers often chain them with other security flaws to gain initial access to devices or entire networks, potentially compromising business systems and personal computers across India.
How to Protect Your Chrome Browser
All Chrome users must take immediate action to secure their browsers. The update process is straightforward but requires user intervention to complete. While the security patch should download automatically in most cases, users must manually restart their browsers to ensure the installation completes and the protection takes effect.
Google has released specific version updates for different operating systems: 142.0.7444.175/.176 for Windows, 142.0.7444.176 for Mac, and 142.0.7444.175 for Linux. These updates are being rolled out globally over the coming days and weeks, but users can manually trigger the update process to get immediate protection.
It's important to note that when you restart Chrome after the update, your regular browsing tabs will reload automatically, but any private "incognito" tabs will not restore. Users should save any important work from incognito sessions before restarting.
This emergency update includes two critical security fixes, with both vulnerabilities classified as high severity. The second vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-13224, was also a Type Confusion in V8 issue reported by Google Big Sleep on October 9, 2025.
Google has implemented temporary restrictions on detailed bug information until a majority of users have updated their browsers with the fix. This standard security practice prevents attackers from using the published technical details to create additional exploits before users have had time to protect themselves.
With India's growing digital ecosystem and increasing reliance on web browsers for everything from banking to government services, this security update represents a critical protective measure for millions of users across the country.
