CVE-2019-13690 is a critical security vulnerability found in Google Chrome versions prior to 75.0.3770.80 running on ChromeOS. The vulnerability stems from an inappropriate implementation in the operating system layer within ChromeOS that allows a remote attacker to escalate privileges to the OS level by leveraging a specially crafted malicious file. This means that an attacker who can convince a user to interact with a malicious file—such as opening or downloading it—could exploit this flaw to gain elevated privileges beyond the normal user scope, potentially gaining full control over the affected device. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-269, which relates to improper privilege management. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.6 (critical) reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with an attack vector that is network-based, requires no privileges, but does require user interaction. The scope is changed, indicating that the vulnerability affects components beyond the initially vulnerable component. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild, the severity and ease of exploitation make this a significant threat. The lack of available patches at the time of this report highlights the urgency for affected users to update to Chrome 75.0.3770.80 or later to mitigate this risk.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially those using ChromeOS devices in their infrastructure or for employee use. Successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of affected devices, enabling attackers to steal sensitive data, install persistent malware, or disrupt operations. Given the critical nature of the vulnerability, attackers could leverage it to bypass security controls and gain administrative access, which is particularly concerning for sectors handling sensitive information such as finance, healthcare, and government. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to trigger the exploit, increasing the attack surface. Additionally, organizations relying on ChromeOS for secure environments may face reputational damage and regulatory compliance issues if breaches occur due to this vulnerability.

European organizations should prioritize updating all ChromeOS devices to version 75.0.3770.80 or later, where the vulnerability is addressed. Until updates are applied, organizations should implement strict endpoint security policies, including restricting the opening of files from untrusted sources and educating users about the risks of interacting with unknown files. Deploying advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting unusual privilege escalation attempts can provide additional protection. Network-level controls such as web filtering and email security gateways should be configured to block or flag potentially malicious files. Organizations should also review and tighten privilege management policies to limit the impact of any successful exploit. Regular audits and monitoring for unusual activity on ChromeOS devices will help in early detection of exploitation attempts.