Update now! Chrome users targeted by active mystery hack

Google has released an emergency update for its Chrome browser after detecting an active attack exploiting a mysterious vulnerability. The tech giant confirmed the flaw on Wednesday but has not disclosed detailed information, citing the severity of the threat.

The vulnerability, currently tracked internally as “466192044”, has no official CVE designation yet. Google rushed the patch due to ongoing exploitation but is coordinating with cybersecurity authorities before assigning an official CVE number.

Details remain scarce

Unlike typical updates, Google has not revealed the type of flaw, which is unusual. Normally, the company shares whether a bug involves memory errors, sandbox escapes, or other issues, while withholding technical details to prevent misuse. In this case, even the general category of the bug remains unclear.

Cybersecurity researchers have linked the internal tracking number to a Chromium project bug involving ANGLE, Google’s open-source graphics translation layer. ANGLE manages Chrome’s rendering engine on Windows. A report on GitHub suggests a possible buffer overflow, a vulnerability type that can crash systems or allow malicious code execution. Google has not confirmed this connection.

Update rollout and affected platforms

The emergency patch is available for the following Chrome versions:

• Windows and Mac: Chrome 143.0.7499.109 / .110

• Linux: Chrome 143.0.7499.109

Google says updates will gradually reach users over the coming days, though some have already received the patch.

How to update manually

Users can check for updates by navigating to:
Settings → About Chrome → Relaunch

Chrome may also install the patch automatically after a restart. Google provides manual download options on its support page.

Because Microsoft Edge also runs on the Chromium engine, it is affected. Microsoft confirmed it is preparing a security fix for Edge users.

Until updates are fully deployed, millions of users on Chrome and Edge may be at risk. Experts advise updating immediately and exercising caution while browsing.