CVE-2025-6179
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows a local attacker on managed ChromeOS devices to bypass extension management controls, disable existing extensions, and access Developer Mode to load unauthorized extensions. It affects Google ChromeOS version 16181.27.0 on managed Chrome devices. Attackers can exploit this using ExtHang3r and ExtPrint3r tools.
💻 Affected Systems
- Google ChromeOS
📦 What is this software?
Chrome Os by Google
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete compromise of managed ChromeOS device with unauthorized extension installation, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor establishment.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation allowing attackers to disable security extensions and load malicious extensions that bypass organizational policies.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if devices are physically secured and users have minimal local access privileges.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploit tools ExtHang3r and ExtPrint3r are publicly available and require local access to the device.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Later versions than 16181.27.0
Vendor Advisory: https://issues.chromium.org/issues/b/399652193
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update ChromeOS to latest stable version via Settings > About ChromeOS > Check for updates. 2. Apply update and restart device. 3. Verify version is no longer 16181.27.0.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Developer Mode Access
allRestrict Developer Mode access through enterprise policies to prevent loading unauthorized extensions.
chrome://policy to configure DeveloperModeDisabled policy
Enhanced Physical Security
allImplement strict physical access controls to prevent local attacker access to devices.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate affected devices from sensitive networks and data
- Implement application allowlisting to prevent execution of ExtHang3r/ExtPrint3r tools
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check ChromeOS version via Settings > About ChromeOS. If version is exactly 16181.27.0 on managed device, it's vulnerable.Check Version:
cat /etc/lsb-release | grep CHROMEOS_RELEASE_VERSIONVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm ChromeOS version is updated beyond 16181.27.0 and test extension management controls.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unauthorized extension installation logs
- Developer Mode activation events
- Process execution of ExtHang3r/ExtPrint3r tools
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected extension update traffic
- Communication with unauthorized extension repositories
SIEM Query:
source="chromeos" AND (event="extension_install" OR event="developer_mode") AND user!="authorized_user"