Chromium CVE-2025-14373 affects an “inappropriate implementation in Toolbar” and appears in the Microsoft Security Update Guide because Microsoft Edge (Chromium‑based) consumes the upstream Chromium open‑source project — the entry announces that the latest Edge builds have ingested the Chromium fix and are no longer vulnerable.
Chromium is the open‑source engine that powers Google Chrome and multiple other browsers, including Microsoft Edge (the Chromium‑based editions). When the Chromium project patches a security flaw, downstream vendors build and ship updates that incorporate those fixes. Microsoft documents the Chromium vulnerabilities that affect Edge in its Security Update Guide to tell administrators and users which issues have been addressed in the Edge builds they ship.
CVE‑2025‑14373 was published alongside a Chromium stable channel update. The Chromium fix was delivered to users as part of a Chrome stable release; other Chromium‑based browsers — including Microsoft Edge — will (or already have) taken that upstream fix into their own release trains. This is why the same CVE appears in the Microsoft Security Update Guide: the entry indicates that Edge has ingested the Chromium remediation and which Edge release level you should be running to be protected.
This article explains what the CVE entry means in practice, how to determine whether your browser is patched, how to check the browser version on Windows and at scale, enterprise deployment notes, and the practical risk and mitigation steps every Windows user and administrator should take.
Practical takeaway: Check your browser’s About page or use the command‑line checks above; if your Chrome or Edge installation reports a version equal to or newer than the patched Chrome/Edge build (Chromium 143 series in recent updates), you are no longer vulnerable to this particular issue. If you manage a fleet of devices, validate versions at scale and push the vendor release through your normal test and deployment process as a priority. Prompt patching, careful verification, and monitoring of browser telemetry are the most effective defenses against exploitation of browser‑side CVEs.
Source: MSRC Security Update Guide - Microsoft Security Response Center
Background / Overview
Chromium is the open‑source engine that powers Google Chrome and multiple other browsers, including Microsoft Edge (the Chromium‑based editions). When the Chromium project patches a security flaw, downstream vendors build and ship updates that incorporate those fixes. Microsoft documents the Chromium vulnerabilities that affect Edge in its Security Update Guide to tell administrators and users which issues have been addressed in the Edge builds they ship.CVE‑2025‑14373 was published alongside a Chromium stable channel update. The Chromium fix was delivered to users as part of a Chrome stable release; other Chromium‑based browsers — including Microsoft Edge — will (or already have) taken that upstream fix into their own release trains. This is why the same CVE appears in the Microsoft Security Update Guide: the entry indicates that Edge has ingested the Chromium remediation and which Edge release level you should be running to be protected.
This article explains what the CVE entry means in practice, how to determine whether your browser is patched, how to check the browser version on Windows and at scale, enterprise deployment notes, and the practical risk and mitigation steps every Windows user and administrator should take.
What “Inappropriate implementation in Toolbar” means
The high‑level technical summary
- The wording “inappropriate implementation in Toolbar” is a concise label chosen for the CVE and reflects the Chromium project’s description of the affected component rather than a full technical disclosure.
- It indicates a logic/implementation flaw in the browser toolbar code path — the area that manages address bar, navigation buttons, extension icons, and related UI functionality.
- Implementation flaws in UI/tooling code can lead to a range of security impacts depending on details: information disclosure, denial‑of‑service (crash), or — less commonly but importantly — memory corruption or sandbox escape when such code interacts with renderer or privileged processes.
Why vendors use terse descriptions
- When a vulnerability is recent and potentially being exploited or when the Chromium project coordinates disclosure, short descriptions prevent attackers from reverse‑engineering a public write‑up before most users are patched.
- That terse label is sufficient for maintainers and security teams to map fixes into downstream products, but not always enough for full technical analysis by the public.
Why the CVE is in the Microsoft Security Update Guide
- Microsoft Edge is a Chromium‑based browser that ingests upstream Chromium security updates. Microsoft maintains an index of CVEs that affect Edge to signal to customers when Edge has been updated to include upstream fixes.
- The Security Update Guide entry for CVE‑2025‑14373 exists to document that:
- The vulnerability originated in Chromium OSS.
- Edge users should update to a specific Edge build (or later) to be protected.
- Administrators can consult the Security Update Guide when planning patches and compliance reporting.
Which browser builds include the fix
- The upstream Chromium stable update that fixed CVE‑2025‑14373 was released as part of a Chrome stable channel update (Chromium/Chrome build series around major version 143).
- Chrome stable release notes for the relevant update show Chrome 143.* builds containing the remediation. In practice, that means:
- Google Chrome users who update to the patched Chrome 143.x build are protected.
- Microsoft Edge builds that track Chromium 143 (Edge 143.x) will include the same fix once Microsoft releases the updated Edge package that ingests the Chromium changes.
How to see the browser version (Windows — quick checks)
Below are the most direct, reliable ways to check the browser version on a Windows device. Each method works for both Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge (replace names/URLs as shown).1. Use the browser’s About dialog (recommended)
- Google Chrome:
- Open Chrome.
- Click the three‑dot menu (top‑right) > Help > About Google Chrome.
- The About page shows the full version string (for example: 143.0.7499.109) and will trigger an update check.
- If an update is available, Chrome will download and prompt to relaunch.
- Microsoft Edge:
- Open Edge.
- Click the three‑dot menu (top‑right) > Help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge.
- The About page shows the full version string (for example: 143.x.xxxx.xx) and will trigger an update check.
- Apply the relaunch when prompted.
2. Use the internal version pages
- Type chrome://version into the Chrome address bar (or edge://version into Edge) and press Enter.
- This displays:
- Browser version
- Revision / build number
- Executable path
- User data directory and command line flags
3. Command line quick check
- Command Prompt:
- For Chrome (default install path):
- "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --version
- For Edge:
- "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe" --version
- PowerShell (file version info):
- Chrome:
- (Get-Item 'C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe').VersionInfo.ProductVersion
- Edge:
- (Get-Item 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe').VersionInfo.ProductVersion
4. File properties (GUI)
- Navigate to the browser executable in File Explorer (typical paths shown above).
- Right‑click the exe > Properties > Details tab > File version / Product version shows the exact build.
How to determine if your browser is patched for CVE‑2025‑14373
- Check the version your browser reports using the About dialog or command line.
- Compare that version to the patched Chrome builds (Chromium/Chrome 143.* that include the update) OR the patched Microsoft Edge build documented by Microsoft.
- If your browser’s version is equal to or later than the patched build, the vulnerability is resolved in that installation.
- If you see Chrome 143.0.7499.109 (or later) in the About dialog, you have the upstream Chrome fix.
- If you use Microsoft Edge, verify the Edge version number in Edge’s About page and confirm it matches the Edge release that Microsoft lists as containing Chromium 143 security updates.
Enterprise and managed‑environment considerations
Update channels and delays
- Browsers have multiple channels: Stable, Beta, Dev, Canary, and Extended Stable (some vendors). Enterprises commonly delay updates via:
- Group Policy / MDM policies
- Enterprise update tools (WSUS, SCCM / MECM, Intune)
- Third‑party patch management systems
- If automatic updates are disabled or you freeze updates for testing, you may remain vulnerable until you explicitly deploy the patched build.
How to verify at scale
- Use inventory or endpoint management tools to query installed browser versions:
- PowerShell script to read ProductVersion from msedge.exe / chrome.exe across endpoints.
- Windows management tools (SCCM, Intune) can report installed application versions in compliance dashboards.
- Example PowerShell (single machine):
- Edge:
- (Get-ChildItem "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).VersionInfo.ProductVersion
- Chrome:
- (Get-ChildItem "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).VersionInfo.ProductVersion
Deployment best practices
- Prioritize endpoints with elevated privileges, RDP exposure, or internet‑facing roles.
- Test the patched build on a pilot group before broad deployment.
- Use phased rollout with rollback plans and monitoring for regressions.
- Monitor vendor release notes and Security Update Guide feeds for CVE mappings and exact build numbers.
Risk analysis: what the CVE means for everyday users and organisations
Threat level
- The Chromium project classified the reported issue as medium in the public advisories; Google labeled it as a contribution that earns a reward tier in their security rewards program.
- In the recent coordinated disclosure cadence, multiple Chromium memory‑safety and implementation bugs have been fixed; some were actively exploited in the wild. Terse CVE summaries are intentionally brief to avoid revealing exploit details until a meaningful percentage of users are patched.
Impact scenarios
- For most users, exposure could mean:
- A crafted web page could trigger the bug if the toolbar code path is reachable from web content or a malicious extension.
- Potential impacts could range from crashes to limited information disclosure.
- For threat actors, toolbar/implementation flaws sometimes allow privilege escalation within the browser or interaction with privileged UI elements — although each CVE’s reach depends on exact technical details.
Why you should update promptly
- Browser vulnerabilities are a common initial vector for broader compromise through drive‑by downloads, malicious pages, or extension abuse.
- Because browsers are exposed to untrusted internet content, any memory or logic flaw is a higher‑value target for attackers.
Step‑by‑step remediation checklist
- Immediately check your browser version:
- Open Edge or Chrome > About > Confirm version string.
- If the version is older than the patched build:
- Use the About dialog to trigger an update and relaunch the browser.
- If update fails, download the latest installer from the official vendor page and install.
- For managed environments:
- Confirm your update pipeline has received the patched build.
- Approve and publish the Edge/Chrome update in your software distribution system.
- Verify after update:
- Re‑check About page and ensure version is equal to or newer than the patched build.
- Run your enterprise compliance report to confirm all endpoints moved to the patched version.
- If immediate patching is not possible:
- Minimize exposure: restrict untrusted browsing, block risky sites, and enforce least privilege.
- Disable unnecessary browser extensions until you can patch.
- For high‑risk assets consider network isolation.
Additional verification methods (advanced)
- Hash or binary verification:
- For high‑security environments, verify the browser installer or binary hash against vendor published signatures (when available) before deployment.
- Sandbox/process validation:
- Confirm sandbox features and process isolation are functioning; some mitigations reduce the impact of browser bugs even if unpatched.
- Logging and detection:
- Increase web gateway or EDR telemetry on browser anomalies and unusual child process launches during the patch window.
Potential gaps and limitations — what to watch for
- Timing: Downstream ingestion can take time. Chrome may publish a fix one day and Edge will publish the corresponding fixed build on a slightly different schedule. Enterprises should not assume immediate parity; always verify the vendor release notes.
- Non‑Chromium browsers: Other browsers (Brave, Opera, Vivaldi) may have their own rollouts. Each vendor must adopt the upstream patch; don’t assume all Chromium variants update at the same moment.
- Hidden details: When a CVE description is intentionally short or “under coordination,” it means vendors are trying to prevent exploitation until wide patching occurs — treat these as higher‑urgency updates even if the severity rating is medium.
Frequently used commands and scripts (copyable examples)
PowerShell (single endpoint — Edge):- Read installed Edge version:
- (Get-Item 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe').VersionInfo.ProductVersion
- Query many machines from an administrative workstation (example pattern):
- Invoke‑Command -ComputerName $computers -ScriptBlock { (Get-Item 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe').VersionInfo.ProductVersion } | Sort-Object -Unique
- "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --version
- "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe" --version
What readers should do now
- Home users: Open your browser now, choose About (Help > About) and update if a new version is available. A browser relaunch completes the installation.
- Power users: Check extensions, disable any untrusted or unnecessary ones, and confirm the browser is on a patched build.
- IT administrators: Verify your update pipelines and push the patched build to at‑risk endpoints. Use PowerShell or your management tool to inventory versions and implement a staged rollout with monitoring.
- Security teams: Add the CVE to your vulnerability tracking and ensure the mitigation window is tracked and closed quickly. Look for indicators of compromise in telemetry during the patch period.
Conclusion
The appearance of CVE‑2025‑14373 in the Microsoft Security Update Guide is a standard part of how Chromium‑based browsers are maintained: the Chromium project discloses and fixes an issue; Google publishes Chrome updates; downstream vendors such as Microsoft then ingest those fixes and document them within their own update channels. The Security Update Guide entry signals that Edge users should upgrade to the Edge build that contains the Chromium fix.Practical takeaway: Check your browser’s About page or use the command‑line checks above; if your Chrome or Edge installation reports a version equal to or newer than the patched Chrome/Edge build (Chromium 143 series in recent updates), you are no longer vulnerable to this particular issue. If you manage a fleet of devices, validate versions at scale and push the vendor release through your normal test and deployment process as a priority. Prompt patching, careful verification, and monitoring of browser telemetry are the most effective defenses against exploitation of browser‑side CVEs.
Source: MSRC Security Update Guide - Microsoft Security Response Center
