Greenshot — Insecure .NET deserialization via WM_COPYDATA enables local code execution
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-502.
Summary
Greenshot is an open source Windows screenshot utility. Greenshot 1.3.300 and earlier deserializes attacker-controlled data received in a WM_COPYDATA message using BinaryFormatter.Deserialize without prior validation or authentication, allowing a local process at the same integrity level to trigger arbitrary code execution inside the Greenshot process. The vulnerable logic resides in a WinForms WndProc handler for WM_COPYDATA (message 74) that copies the supplied bytes into a MemoryStream and invokes BinaryFormatter.Deserialize, and only afterward checks whether the specified channel is authorized. Because the authorization check occurs after deserialization, any gadget chain embedded in the serialized payload executes regardless of channel membership. A local attacker who can send WM_COPYDATA to the Greenshot main window can achieve in-process code execution, which may aid evasion of application control policies by running payloads within the trusted, signed Greenshot.exe process. This issue is fixed in version 1.3.301. No known workarounds exist.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
Remediation
- Fix · CNA greenshot (greenshot) Fixed in 1.3.301
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-59050
References
More Greenshot vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-17729 Greenshot Vulnerable to OS Command Injection via ExternalCommand Plugin CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2023-17351 Greenshot 1.2.10 and below allows arbitrary code execution because .NET content is… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2026-20856 Greenshot Vulnerable to OS Command Injection via ExternalCommand Plugin CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences