Electron: Registry key path injection in app.setAsDefaultProtocolClient on Windows
Priority LOW 32CWE-20Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · High · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and GitHub.
Summary
Electron is a framework for writing cross-platform desktop applications using JavaScript, HTML and CSS. Prior to versions 38.8.6, 39.8.1, 40.8.1, and 41.0.0, on Windows, app.setAsDefaultProtocolClient(protocol) did not validate the protocol name before writing to the registry. Apps that pass untrusted input as the protocol name may allow an attacker to write to arbitrary subkeys under HKCU\Software\Classes\, potentially hijacking existing protocol handlers. Apps are only affected if they call app.setAsDefaultProtocolClient() with a protocol name derived from external or untrusted input. Apps that use a hardcoded protocol name are not affected. This issue has been patched in versions 38.8.6, 39.8.1, 40.8.1, and 41.0.0.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00244 15th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed electron (electron): 38.8.6, 39.8.1, 40.8.1 +1electron (npm): 38.8.6, 39.8.1, 40.8.1 +1
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| electron | electron | before 38.8.6; 39.0.0-alpha.1 to before 39.8.1; 40.0.0-alpha.1 to before 40.8.1; 41.0.0-alpha.1 to before 41.0.0 | 38.8.6, 39.8.1, 40.8.1, 41.0.0 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | electron (npm) | before 38.8.6 | 38.8.6 | Patch available | GHSA-mwmh-mq4g-g6gr |
| — | electron (npm) | 39.0.0-alpha.1 to before 39.8.1 | 39.8.1 | Patch available | GHSA-mwmh-mq4g-g6gr |
| — | electron (npm) | 40.0.0-alpha.1 to before 40.8.1 | 40.8.1 | Patch available | GHSA-mwmh-mq4g-g6gr |
| — | electron (npm) | 41.0.0-alpha.1 to before 41.0.0 | 41.0.0 | Patch available | GHSA-mwmh-mq4g-g6gr |
- electron Vendorelectron Affected before 38.8.6; 39.0.0-alpha.1 to before 39.8.1; 40.0.0-alpha.1 to before 40.8.1; 41.0.0-alpha.1 to before 41.0.0 Fixed in 38.8.6, 39.8.1, 40.8.1, 41.0.0 Patch available CNA
- electron (npm) Vendor— Affected before 38.8.6 Fixed in 38.8.6 Patch available GHSA-mwmh-mq4g-g6gr
- electron (npm) Vendor— Affected 39.0.0-alpha.1 to before 39.8.1 Fixed in 39.8.1 Patch available GHSA-mwmh-mq4g-g6gr
- electron (npm) Vendor— Affected 40.0.0-alpha.1 to before 40.8.1 Fixed in 40.8.1 Patch available GHSA-mwmh-mq4g-g6gr
- electron (npm) Vendor— Affected 41.0.0-alpha.1 to before 41.0.0 Fixed in 41.0.0 Patch available GHSA-mwmh-mq4g-g6gr
CPE configurations NVD · 15
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | before 38.8.6; 39.0.0 to before 39.8.1; 40.0.0 to before 40.8.1 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:alpha1:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 41.0.0 alpha1 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:alpha2:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 41.0.0 alpha2 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:alpha3:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 41.0.0 alpha3 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:alpha4:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 41.0.0 alpha4 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:alpha5:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 41.0.0 alpha5 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:alpha6:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 41.0.0 alpha6 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:beta1:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 41.0.0 beta1 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:beta2:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 41.0.0 beta2 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:beta3:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 41.0.0 beta3 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions before 38.8.6; 39.0.0 to before 39.8.1; 40.0.0 to before 40.8.1 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:alpha1:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 41.0.0 alpha1 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:alpha2:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 41.0.0 alpha2 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:alpha3:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 41.0.0 alpha3 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:alpha4:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 41.0.0 alpha4 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:alpha5:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 41.0.0 alpha5 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:alpha6:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 41.0.0 alpha6 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:beta1:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 41.0.0 beta1 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:beta2:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 41.0.0 beta2 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:beta3:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 41.0.0 beta3 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
Show 5 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:beta4:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 41.0.0 beta4 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:beta5:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 41.0.0 beta5 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:beta6:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 41.0.0 beta6 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:beta7:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 41.0.0 beta7 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:beta8:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 41.0.0 beta8 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:beta4:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 41.0.0 beta4 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:beta5:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 41.0.0 beta5 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:beta6:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 41.0.0 beta6 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:beta7:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 41.0.0 beta7 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:41.0.0:beta8:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 41.0.0 beta8 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
Remediation
- Fix · CNA electron (electron) Fixed in 38.8.6, 39.8.1, 40.8.1, 41.0.0
- Fix · GHSA-mwmh-mq4g-g6gr electron (npm) Fixed in 38.8.6 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-mwmh-mq4g-g6gr electron (npm) Fixed in 39.8.1 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-mwmh-mq4g-g6gr electron (npm) Fixed in 40.8.1 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-mwmh-mq4g-g6gr electron (npm) Fixed in 41.0.0 Advisory →
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Build of Podman Desktop
- Red Hat Build of Podman Desktop - Tech Preview
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-34773
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-mwmh-mq4g-g6gr
References
More electron vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-39496 Information disclosure in electron-builder CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.2
- TI-2024-26621 Code Signing Bypass on Windows in electron-updater < 6.3.0-alpha.6 CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2023-09452 Content-Secrity-Policy disabling eval not applied consistently in renderers with sandbox disabled in Electron CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-39157 Electron: Buffer performs incorrect byte length calculations resulting in heap buffer under/overflow CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.3
- TI-2017-09308 GitHub Electron before 1.6.8 allows remote command execution because of a nodeIntegration… CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.1
- TI-2022-11788 Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere in Electron CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
Sources
- CVE-2026-34773 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-34773 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-mwmh-mq4g-g6gr · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-34773 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences