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Google’s initial stable desktop release of Chrome 96, version 96.0.4664.45, arrived on November 15, 2021, with 27 security fixes. Google said the rollout to Windows, Mac, and Linux would take days or weeks. Chrome 96 later received additional security patches in December, so the 27-fix figure applies to the initial build—not every Chrome 96 update.
What Chrome 96’s initial security update included
Google’s November 15, 2021 stable-channel announcement promoted desktop Chrome 96.0.4664.45 for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It also promoted Chrome 96 to the extended stable channel for Windows and Mac.
The announcement stated, “This update includes 27 security fixes.” Google described issues across several parts of the browser, with examples rated high, medium, or low severity.
Examples of the listed flaws
- High severity: CVE-2021-38008, a use-after-free in media; CVE-2021-38009, an inappropriate implementation in cache; CVE-2021-38006, a use-after-free in storage foundation; CVE-2021-38007, a type confusion in V8; CVE-2021-38005, a use-after-free in loader; and CVE-2021-38010, an inappropriate implementation in service workers.
- Medium severity: issues involving navigation, CORS policy enforcement, the contacts picker, and referrer handling.
- Low severity: issues involving Cast UI and WebAuthentication.
These are examples from the public announcement, not a complete technical description of all 27 fixes. Google said some bug details and links could remain restricted until most users had updated, or while third-party projects were waiting for fixes. It also credited internal audits, fuzzing, and other initiatives for additional fixes.
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Chrome 96 received more security fixes in December
The initial 27-fix count was not the total for every build carrying the Chrome 96 major version. Google announced two subsequent desktop updates with their own security-fix counts:
| Desktop build | Announcement date | Security fixes stated |
|---|---|---|
| 96.0.4664.45 | November 15, 2021 | 27 |
| 96.0.4664.93 | December 6, 2021 | 23 |
| 96.0.4664.110 | December 13, 2021 | 5 |
Google’s December 13, 2021 release note identified critical CVE-2021-4098 and high-severity CVE-2021-4102 among the later fixes. Google said it was aware of reports that an exploit for CVE-2021-4102 existed in the wild. These counts belong to separate build announcements; adding them does not establish a unique total of vulnerabilities across the Chrome 96 milestone.
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What else was planned for Chrome 96?
Google’s October 21, 2021 Chrome 96 beta announcement described web-platform and developer-facing changes. Because it was beta documentation, it should not be read as proof that each feature was enabled for every user at the stable launch.
Among the announced changes were Priority Hints, desktop back-forward cache, conditional focus for display capture, and support for using HTTPS when a DNS HTTPS record is available. The beta post also discussed a runtime flag for testing a three-digit Chrome user-agent version, the Cross-Origin-Embedder-Policy: credentialless header, and Content Security Policy improvements for WebAssembly.
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- Dedicated Manager App: Use the Thetis Manager App for the initial hardware PIN setup. Setting the PIN on the device first ensures a smooth registration process. Once the PIN is configured, you can begin registering the key across your favorite FIDO2-compatible online services.
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- Check FIDO2 compatibility before purchase - Known limitations: ID Austria is not supported (requires FIDO2 Level 2). Windows Hello login only works with Windows Enterprise editions that support Entra ID. NFC functionality is not supported.
Should you update Chrome?
Chrome 96 is a historical release from November 2021, not a version to seek out or install today. The security lesson is to keep the Chrome version currently offered for your device and operating system up to date; do not downgrade to Chrome 96 based on this old release coverage. The cited stable-channel notes concern desktop builds and do not establish identical rollout timing for every platform.
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- FIDO2 & Passkey Ready: Business-ready and FIDO2 L1 certified. This key is supported by major management suites and is ideal for both individual and enterprise deployment. Works seamlessly with Gmail, Facebook, GitHub, Dropbox, Coinbase, and more.
- Dedicated Manager App: Use the Thetis Manager App for the initial hardware PIN setup. Setting the PIN on the device first ensures a smooth registration process. Once the PIN is configured, you can begin registering the key across your favorite FIDO2-compatible online services.
- Universal Connectivity (USB-C & NFC): The Thetis PRO-A features integrated USB Type C and NFC for a near-instant account unlock. Simply unfold the key and hold it to your smartphone’s NFC antenna to authenticate on the go.
- Enhanced MFA (FIDO2 & TOTP/HOTP): Strengthen your security with flexible options. Use the Manager App to access TOTP/HOTP features for accounts that do not yet support FIDO2.
- Check FIDO2 compatibility before purchase - Known limitations: ID Austria is not supported (requires FIDO2 Level 2). Windows Hello login only works with Windows Enterprise editions that support Entra ID. NFC is supported only through mobile authentication, Not MacOS/windows.
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