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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Google fixed CVE-2020-15999 in Chrome 86.0.4240.111 after it was found being actively exploited. The flaw was a heap-buffer overflow in FreeType, the font-rendering library bundled with Chrome: a maliciously crafted web page could reach the vulnerable font parser while Chrome rendered the page. If you still use an affected Chrome build, update and restart it; applications that use their own vulnerable FreeType build need separate updates.
What was the Chrome FreeType vulnerability?
CVE-2020-15999 was a memory-safety flaw in FreeType, specifically its Load_SBit_Png path for processing embedded bitmap glyph data. A heap-buffer overflow can corrupt memory when software processes crafted input. In Chrome, the attack path was a specially crafted HTML page opened in the browser, according to the Chromium issue record.
Chrome uses FreeType as its primary font-processing library on Android, ChromeOS, and Linux, and ships the library with the browser. Google’s developer explanation identifies the vulnerability as a heap overflow discovered by Project Zero and says it was being actively exploited: Chrome security updates. This was therefore a real in-the-wild zero-day, not merely a theoretical scanner finding.
Which versions fixed CVE-2020-15999?
| Software | Fixed version | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome desktop | 86.0.4240.111 | Google’s Chrome fix. The release was shipped in October 2020; see SecurityWeek’s report and Malwarebytes’ report. |
| FreeType | 2.10.4 | Upstream fixed version identified by SecurityWeek and Malwarebytes. Vendors may distribute a later version or a package with their own security backport. |
These are historical fixed-version references, not a recommendation to install an old release today. Use the current update offered by Chrome or by the vendor responsible for your operating system or application.
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How to update and verify Chrome
- In Chrome, open the three-dot menu and select Help > About Google Chrome. Alternatively, enter
chrome://settings/helpin the address bar. - Let Chrome check for and install available updates. If an update is ready, restart the browser when prompted so the updated code takes effect.
- On the About page, check the version displayed after the restart. For the historical CVE-2020-15999 desktop fix, the relevant Chrome version was 86.0.4240.111 or later; on a currently supported installation, use the current version supplied through Chrome’s update channel.
Chrome can update automatically, but checking the About page gives you a way to prompt the check and verify the installed version rather than assuming an update completed.
Do other applications need a separate FreeType update?
Yes, if they use an affected FreeType build. Updating Chrome addresses the library bundled with Chrome; it does not patch a separate copy used by another browser, image editor, document viewer, or other program. Likewise, Linux distributions may package FreeType for applications to use independently of Chrome. Install the security update provided by the relevant software vendor or operating-system distributor. The upstream reference fix is FreeType 2.10.4, but a vendor may provide a later version or backport the fix into a package with a different version number.
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- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
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The distinction is bundled versus system FreeType: a program can ship its own library, or use one supplied by the operating system. Updating one copy does not prove that every other copy is fixed. Check for updates to the applications and system packages that supply or bundle FreeType.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about exploitation?
Google and the Chromium record confirm active exploitation, but the cited reports do not establish a defensible count of affected users, victims, campaigns, or the overall volume of attacks. Active exploitation is enough reason to apply the fix promptly; it does not support a precise estimate of how many people were affected.
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Chromium’s security guidance cautions that it is impossible to guarantee a fixed vulnerability was never exploited in the wild, and says to roll out the fix: Chromium security guidance.
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