CVE-2025-12440 is a security vulnerability identified in the Autofill component of Google Chrome versions prior to 142.0.7444.59. The flaw stems from an inappropriate implementation in the Autofill feature, which is designed to automatically fill in user data such as addresses, credit card information, and other form inputs. In this case, a remote attacker can craft a malicious HTML page that, when visited by a user, can exploit specific UI gestures to access sensitive information residing in the browser's process memory. This could include autofill data or other sensitive information temporarily stored in memory during browsing sessions. The attack requires the user to perform certain UI interactions, which may involve clicking or interacting with elements on the malicious page. The vulnerability does not appear to allow direct code execution or compromise browser integrity but poses a confidentiality risk by leaking sensitive data. The Chromium security team has rated this vulnerability as low severity, reflecting the limited impact and exploitation complexity. No CVSS score has been assigned yet, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on November 10, 2025, and affects Chrome versions before 142.0.7444.59, which includes a wide range of users given Chrome's market dominance.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-12440 is the potential leakage of sensitive autofill data, which may include personal information, payment details, or credentials stored in the browser. This could lead to privacy violations, identity theft, or targeted phishing attacks if attackers harvest such data. While the vulnerability does not directly affect system integrity or availability, the confidentiality breach can undermine trust in corporate IT environments, especially where Chrome is widely used. Organizations with employees who frequently use Chrome for web-based applications or handle sensitive data are at higher risk. The need for user interaction reduces the likelihood of mass exploitation but does not eliminate targeted attacks, particularly in sectors like finance, healthcare, or government where sensitive data is common. Additionally, the lack of known exploits in the wild suggests a window of opportunity to patch before widespread abuse occurs. However, the pervasiveness of Chrome in Europe means that many organizations could be exposed if updates are not applied promptly.

To mitigate CVE-2025-12440, organizations should prioritize updating all instances of Google Chrome to version 142.0.7444.59 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. Automated patch management tools should be employed to ensure timely deployment across all endpoints. User education is critical: employees should be trained to recognize suspicious websites and avoid interacting with unexpected UI prompts or gestures on unfamiliar pages. Implementing browser security policies that restrict or monitor autofill usage can reduce exposure. Network-level protections such as web filtering and threat intelligence integration can help block access to known malicious sites. Additionally, organizations should audit and limit the amount of sensitive data stored in browser autofill features, encouraging the use of dedicated password managers with stronger security controls. Monitoring for unusual browser behavior or data exfiltration attempts can provide early warning of exploitation attempts. Finally, maintaining an incident response plan that includes browser-related threats will improve readiness.