Latest Chrome 88 Update Includes Important Fix for Zero-Day Vulnerability - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Latest Chrome 88 Update Includes Important Fix for Zero-Day Vulnerability

Google Chrome Material Icon 450x450Google has released Chrome version 88.0.4324.150 with an important fix for a zero-day vulnerability in the web browser that the company says is likely to have been exploited in the wild.

Google hasn't provided specific details about the heap buffer overflow memory corruption bug known as CVE-2021-21148, and says it won't do so "until a majority of users are updated with a fix."

However, ZDNet notes that the date on which Google says the bug was reported, January 24, is just two days after Google's Threat Analysis Group reported a hacking campaign carried out by North Korean hackers against the cyber-security community.

Some of the attacks involved luring security researchers to a blog where the attackers exploited browser zero-days to run malware on the researchers' systems. On January 28, Microsoft also reported that attackers most likely used a Chrome zero-day for their attacks.

The proximity of the two events has led security researchers to suspect that it was indeed the CVE-2021-21148 zero-day that was used in the attacks. As a result, all users are being advised to use the Chrome menu bar's About Google Chrome option to upgrade their browser to the latest version as soon as possible.

Google Chrome for Mac is a free download available directly from Google's servers. Google Chrome for iOS is a free download for iPhone and iPad available on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Popular Stories

Google Logo Feature Slack

Google Lowering Play Store Fees and Allowing Alternative Payments Worldwide

Wednesday June 24, 2026 3:30 pm PDT by
As a result of the lawsuit Epic Games filed against Google, Google is making major changes to its Play Store worldwide. Google today said it would soon lower fees and start accepting alternative payment options. App developers will be able to offer payment options other than Google's in-app billing system in the UK, European Economic Area, and United States. Developers can use the billing...
gemini for mac app google

Google Gemini Spark Comes to Mac With Local File Automation

Wednesday July 1, 2026 9:10 am PDT by
Google today launched Gemini Spark for its macOS desktop app, allowing the AI agent to automate tasks involving local files and desktop workflows. Google announced the update today, adding a dedicated Spark tab to the sidebar of the Gemini app for macOS. The feature allows the AI agent to take action on files stored locally on a user's computer rather than just responding to questions in a...
google pixel 10 fold 1

Google's Pixel 11 Event Set for August 12, a Month Before Apple Debuts Foldable iPhone

Tuesday July 7, 2026 11:48 am PDT by
Google will introduce its latest Pixel smartphones at an August 12 event, debuting the updated devices about a month ahead of when Apple is expected to announce new iPhone models. Google is expected to launch the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and a new Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Leaked CAD renders suggest the new smartphones will have slimmed down bezels, a slightly thinner design than...

Top Rated Comments

techpr Avatar
71 months ago
I stopped using and uninstalled Chrome in 2020. Safari and Firefox for me.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macdos Avatar
71 months ago
Always these "overflows", there's no end to it, it is just like Flash.

Code in apps and OSs should be rewritten from scratch with something else than C and derivatives, something that doesn't use "pointers", something that is tight from start.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
71 months ago
Does this zero-day vulnerability only affect Chrome, or does it affect all Chromium based browsers?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
71 months ago

Google hasn't provided specific details about the heap buffer overflow memory corruption bug known as CVE-2021-21148, and says it won't do so "until a majority of users are updated with a fix."
"We have discovered a bug where Apple's tracking option will cause Chrome to crash, so we are trying to disable it!"

Internet irony might be lost on this one.

Curious as to what others uses as a backup browsers to Safari? I'm looking to de-google thus Chrome is out, but need a Chromium browser for the occasional website where Safari doesn't place nice.
Firefox with uMatrix and Facebook Container. It works wonders to clear the tracking gunk.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chucker23n1 Avatar
71 months ago

What about WebKit based browsers like Safari? Is the exploit something Google added since forking for Chromium, or is it something that was separately fixed already for WebKit?
If the bug is in V8, WebKit won't be affected because WebKit's JS engine was never V8. (Chrome choosing its own JS engine happened long before it forked WebKit to Blink.)

If the bug is outside V8, it is indeed possible that WebKit is affected.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
luvbug Avatar
71 months ago
The Brave browser has already updated the stable release to this latest Chrome build. Just FYI. Edit: "latest Chromium build", which tracks the Chrome build exactly, but excludes the closed-source bits.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)