---
title: "CISA Warns of Actively Exploited Google Chromium Vulnerability"
short_title: "CISA adds critical Chrome vulnerability to KEV catalog"
description: "CISA has added CVE-2025-14174, an out-of-bounds memory access flaw in Google Chromium, to its KEV catalog. Learn why immediate patching is critical."
author: "Vitus"
date: 2025-01-24
categories: [Cybersecurity, Vulnerabilities]
tags: [cve-2025-14174, google-chromium, cisa, kev-catalog, cybersecurity]
score: 0.85
cve_ids: [CVE-2025-14174]
---
TL;DR
CISA has added CVE-2025-14174, a critical out-of-bounds memory access vulnerability in Google Chromium, to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog due to evidence of active exploitation. Federal agencies must patch immediately, and all organizations are urged to prioritize remediation to mitigate risks.
---
Main Content
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has escalated its response to a critical vulnerability in Google Chromium, adding CVE-2025-14174 to its [Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog). This move follows confirmed reports of active exploitation, underscoring the urgency for organizations to address the flaw immediately.
Out-of-bounds memory access vulnerabilities are a favored attack vector for cybercriminals, enabling them to execute malicious code, escalate privileges, or compromise sensitive data. Given Chromium's widespread use as the foundation for popular browsers like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to both federal and private sector networks.
---
Key Points
- CVE-2025-14174 is an out-of-bounds memory access vulnerability in Google Chromium, actively exploited in the wild.
- CISA’s Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 22-01 mandates federal agencies to remediate the flaw by the specified due date.
- While BOD 22-01 applies only to Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies, CISA urges all organizations to prioritize patching this vulnerability.
- Timely remediation of KEV Catalog vulnerabilities is critical to reducing exposure to cyberattacks.
---
Technical Details
CVE-2025-14174 is classified as an out-of-bounds memory access vulnerability in Google Chromium. This type of flaw occurs when a program reads or writes data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, leading to unpredictable behavior, crashes, or arbitrary code execution. Exploiting such vulnerabilities allows attackers to:
- Execute malicious code remotely.
- Bypass security controls.
- Gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Given Chromium’s dominance in the browser market, this vulnerability affects a vast number of users and organizations globally.
---
Impact Assessment
The inclusion of CVE-2025-14174 in CISA’s KEV Catalog signals its high severity and active exploitation in real-world attacks. The potential impact includes:
- Data Breaches: Attackers could exfiltrate sensitive data, including credentials, financial information, or intellectual property.
- System Compromise: Successful exploitation may lead to full system takeover, enabling further lateral movement within a network.
- Regulatory Risks: Organizations failing to patch may face compliance violations, particularly those subject to FISMA, NIST, or sector-specific regulations.
Federal agencies are required to remediate the vulnerability by CISA’s deadline, but all organizations are strongly encouraged to act swiftly to mitigate risks.
---
Mitigation Steps
To protect against CVE-2025-14174, organizations should:
1. Apply Patches Immediately: Update all Chromium-based browsers (e.g., Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge) to the latest version.
2. Monitor for Exploitation: Deploy intrusion detection systems (IDS) and endpoint protection tools to detect suspicious activity.
3. Educate Users: Warn employees about phishing and social engineering attacks that may exploit this vulnerability.
4. Review CISA’s KEV Catalog: Regularly check the [KEV Catalog](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog) for updates on actively exploited vulnerabilities.
---
Affected Systems
- Google Chrome (all versions prior to the latest patch).
- Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based versions).
- Other Chromium-based browsers (e.g., Brave, Opera).
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Conclusion
The addition of CVE-2025-14174 to CISA’s KEV Catalog highlights the critical need for immediate action. While federal agencies are bound by BOD 22-01 to remediate the flaw, all organizations must prioritize patching to prevent exploitation. Proactive vulnerability management is essential to safeguarding networks against evolving cyber threats.
For more details, refer to CISA’s [official advisory](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2025/12/12/cisa-adds-one-known-exploited-vulnerability-catalog-0).
---
References
[^1]: CISA. "[CISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2025/12/12/cisa-adds-one-known-exploited-vulnerability-catalog-0)". Retrieved 2025-01-24.
[^2]: CVE. "[CVE-2025-14174 Detail](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-14174)". Retrieved 2025-01-24.
[^3]: CISA. "[Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog)". Retrieved 2025-01-24.