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 photos wardrobe

Google Photos Wardrobe Feature Comes to iOS

Thursday September 24, 2026 1:33 pm PDT by
Google today said its digital wardrobe option is available in the Google Photos iOS app in the U.S., India, and Brazil. Google first announced the feature back in April, but it was limited to Android users until now. The wardrobe option uses AI to pull images of clothing from the Google Photos library, organizing them into a digital closet. Users can put items together to create outfits ...
Apple Maps Google Maps Icons

Google Maps Showing 'Lake America' in U.S., Apple Maps Yet to Follow

Monday August 31, 2026 6:33 am PDT by
Google Maps users in the U.S. will now see the name "Lake America" instead of "Lake Ontario" for the Great Lake that straddles the New York—Ontario border. Google said it made this change in response to the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) updating the name for "Lake Ontario" to "Lake America," following an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump last week....
Apple TV Sans Remote Feature

New Apple TV 4K Leaked

Friday September 25, 2026 8:16 am PDT by
MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris has uncovered an image file from Apple for an unreleased Apple TV 4K, suggesting that a new model will finally be released soon. The image is specifically for an "Apple TV 4K (4th generation)" model. Apple TV 4K (4th generation) image (on a gradient) The image reveals that the Apple TV will have the same external design as the current model, with all of its...

Top Rated Comments

techpr Avatar
74 months ago
I stopped using and uninstalled Chrome in 2020. Safari and Firefox for me.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macdos Avatar
74 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)
74 months ago
Does this zero-day vulnerability only affect Chrome, or does it affect all Chromium based browsers?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
74 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
74 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
74 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)
Latest Stories
Amazon Just Knocked $900 Off Apple's Latest 16-Inch MacBook Pro
Amazon Just Knocked $900 Off Apple's Latest 16-Inch MacBook Pro
6 hours ago
Top Stories: Apple Leaks, Siri AI Settlement, and More
Top Stories: Apple Leaks, Siri AI Settlement, and More
1 day ago
watchOS 27: 12 New Things To Check Out on Your Apple Watch
watchOS 27: 12 New Things To Check Out on Your Apple Watch
2 days ago
Banks and Credit Unions to Team Up Against Apple Pay Fees
Banks and Credit Unions to Team Up Against Apple Pay Fees
2 days ago
Apple Finally Shares tvOS 27 Release Notes With List of New Features
Apple Finally Shares tvOS 27 Release Notes With List of New Features
2 days ago
Amazon's $199 Discount on Apple Watch Ultra 3 Returns to Help Clear Stock
Amazon's $199 Discount on Apple Watch Ultra 3 Returns to Help Clear Stock
2 days ago
MacRumors Giveaway: Win an Apple Watch Ultra 4 From Lululook
MacRumors Giveaway: Win an Apple Watch Ultra 4 From Lululook
2 days ago
Apple Code Confirms iPad 12 Specs: A19, 8GB RAM, N1, C1X Modem
Apple Code Confirms iPad 12 Specs: A19, 8GB RAM, N1, C1X Modem
2 days ago
Some iPhone 18 Pro Max Users Experiencing AT&T Cellular Issues
Some iPhone 18 Pro Max Users Experiencing AT&T Cellular Issues
2 days ago
Launch Week Deals Hit Latest Macs, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and Apple Accessories
Launch Week Deals Hit Latest Macs, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and Apple Accessories
2 days ago
The MacRumors Show: Tyler Stalman Talks iPhone 18 Pro's Camera
The MacRumors Show: Tyler Stalman Talks iPhone 18 Pro's Camera
2 days ago
iPad Mini With A20 Pro, New HomePod Mini Colors, and New Apple TV 4K All Just Leaked
iPad Mini With A20 Pro, New HomePod Mini Colors, and New Apple TV 4K All Just Leaked
2 days ago
iPad Mini 8 Leaked: A20 Pro Chip, Landscape Camera, and More
iPad Mini 8 Leaked: A20 Pro Chip, Landscape Camera, and More
2 days ago
Exclusive: First Look at HomePod Mini 2 in Three New Colors
Exclusive: First Look at HomePod Mini 2 in Three New Colors
2 days ago
New Apple TV 4K Leaked
New Apple TV 4K Leaked
2 days ago
Create a Custom Pass in the Wallet App on iPhone
Create a Custom Pass in the Wallet App on iPhone
2 days ago
How to Check Your Mac's Manufacture Date in macOS 27
How to Check Your Mac's Manufacture Date in macOS 27
3 days ago
What's Gone in macOS Golden Gate and What's Next in macOS 28
What's Gone in macOS Golden Gate and What's Next in macOS 28
3 days ago
TestFlight App Gets New iOS 27 Features
TestFlight App Gets New iOS 27 Features
3 days ago
Google Photos Wardrobe Feature Comes to iOS
Google Photos Wardrobe Feature Comes to iOS
3 days ago
Apple Music to Host Free Head Trip Festival Livestream
Apple Music to Host Free Head Trip Festival Livestream
3 days ago
watchOS 27.2 Code Hints at iPhone-Style Screenshot Previews
watchOS 27.2 Code Hints at iPhone-Style Screenshot Previews
3 days ago
Beats 360 Headphones Now Available in Apple Stores
Beats 360 Headphones Now Available in Apple Stores
3 days ago
Apple Shares New Video Promoting iOS 27 Parental Controls
Apple Shares New Video Promoting iOS 27 Parental Controls
3 days ago
Apple Has Announced 12 New Products in the Past Month
Apple Has Announced 12 New Products in the Past Month
3 days ago
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs. Ultra 4 Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs. Ultra 4 Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?
3 days ago
Here's When Apple TV is Airing Free 'Peanuts' Holiday Specials This Year
Here's When Apple TV is Airing Free 'Peanuts' Holiday Specials This Year
3 days ago
Square Announces Apple Business Integration
Square Announces Apple Business Integration
3 days ago
AirPods Pro 3 on Sale for $199 This Week on Amazon
AirPods Pro 3 on Sale for $199 This Week on Amazon
3 days ago
Qualcomm Announces Renewed Agreement With Apple
Qualcomm Announces Renewed Agreement With Apple
3 days ago