CVE-2025-12380 is a use-after-free vulnerability discovered in the WebGPU internals of Mozilla Firefox, specifically affecting versions prior to 144.0.2. The vulnerability arises from improper memory management in the handling of WebGPU-related inter-process communication (IPC) calls between the compromised child process and the GPU or browser process. A compromised child process can exploit this flaw to trigger a use-after-free condition, which may allow an attacker to escape the sandbox restrictions imposed on the child process. This sandbox escape could lead to arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation within the GPU or browser process, significantly increasing the attack surface. The vulnerability was introduced starting with Firefox 142 and was publicly disclosed on October 28, 2025. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the technical nature of the flaw and its potential to bypass sandbox protections make it a critical concern. The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require that the attacker first compromise a child process, which typically handles web content or extensions. The lack of a CVSS score necessitates an assessment based on the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, the ease of exploitation, and the scope of affected systems. Firefox is widely used across Europe, including in government, enterprise, and critical infrastructure sectors, making this vulnerability particularly relevant for European organizations.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-12380 is the potential for sandbox escape from a compromised child process, which can lead to arbitrary code execution in higher-privileged processes such as the GPU or browser process. This can compromise the confidentiality and integrity of data processed by Firefox, including sensitive browsing data, credentials, and potentially allow lateral movement within a network. Availability may also be affected if the vulnerability is exploited to cause crashes or denial-of-service conditions. For European organizations, especially those in sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure that rely heavily on Firefox for secure web access, the risk is significant. Exploitation could facilitate advanced persistent threats (APTs) or targeted attacks by threat actors aiming to bypass browser sandboxing defenses. The vulnerability's exploitation complexity is moderate, requiring initial compromise of a child process, but once achieved, it can lead to severe consequences. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive mitigation but also underscores the importance of rapid patching to prevent future exploitation.

1. Immediate upgrade of all Firefox installations to version 144.0.2 or later, which contains the patch for this vulnerability. 2. Implement strict process isolation policies and sandboxing configurations to limit the privileges and capabilities of child processes. 3. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to monitor for unusual IPC activity or signs of sandbox escape attempts. 4. Restrict or audit the use of WebGPU features in enterprise environments where possible, especially if not required for business-critical applications. 5. Conduct regular security awareness training for users to recognize and report suspicious browser behavior that may indicate compromise. 6. Maintain up-to-date threat intelligence feeds to detect emerging exploits targeting this vulnerability. 7. For high-security environments, consider deploying browser security extensions or hardened browser configurations that reduce the attack surface related to IPC and GPU processes. 8. Coordinate with IT and security teams to ensure rapid deployment of patches and validation of system integrity post-update.