CVE-2025-5283 is a use-after-free vulnerability identified in the libvpx library integrated within Google Chrome versions prior to 137.0.7151.55. Libvpx is a codec library used for VP8/VP9 video decoding and encoding, and the vulnerability arises when Chrome processes crafted HTML pages containing malicious video content or related media elements. The use-after-free condition allows an attacker to manipulate heap memory after it has been freed, leading to potential heap corruption. This can be exploited remotely by convincing a user to visit a malicious webpage, triggering the vulnerability without requiring any privileges or authentication. The exploitation could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause limited information disclosure or integrity violations, although no direct availability impact is noted. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N) indicates network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction needed, unchanged scope, and low confidentiality and integrity impact. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the medium severity rating suggests that timely patching is important to prevent potential exploitation. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-416 (Use After Free), a common memory corruption issue that can lead to serious security consequences if exploited successfully.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to confidentiality and integrity of data accessed or processed via Google Chrome. Since Chrome is widely used across enterprises, government agencies, and critical infrastructure in Europe, exploitation could lead to unauthorized information disclosure or manipulation of browser data. Sectors with high exposure to web-based threats, such as finance, healthcare, and public administration, are particularly at risk. The requirement for user interaction (visiting a malicious webpage) means phishing or drive-by download attacks could be vectors. While no known exploits exist currently, the presence of a use-after-free flaw in a widely used browser component means that attackers could develop exploits, increasing risk over time. The vulnerability does not affect availability directly but could be leveraged as part of multi-stage attacks. Organizations relying on Chrome for sensitive operations should consider this a medium priority but act promptly to mitigate risk.

1. Immediately update Google Chrome to version 137.0.7151.55 or later where the vulnerability is patched. 2. Employ enterprise browser management tools to enforce automatic updates and prevent use of outdated versions. 3. Use browser security features such as site isolation, sandboxing, and strict content security policies to limit the impact of malicious web content. 4. Educate users about the risks of visiting untrusted or suspicious websites to reduce the likelihood of triggering the vulnerability. 5. Deploy network-level protections such as web filtering and intrusion prevention systems to block access to known malicious domains. 6. Monitor browser crash logs and unusual behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts. 7. For high-risk environments, consider restricting or isolating browser usage to minimize exposure. 8. Maintain up-to-date endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect exploitation attempts or post-exploitation activity.