Electron: DevTools embedder handler executes arbitrary files via shell open
Priority LOW 32CWE-78Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- High
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub. Impact type from CWE-78.
Summary
Electron is a framework for writing cross-platform desktop applications using JavaScript, HTML and CSS. Prior to 39.8.9, 40.9.2, 41.2.1, and 42.0.0-beta.3, the DevTools reveal in file manager action could launch the target file rather than reveal it. An attacker with a separate means of running script inside the DevTools frontend, such as a malicious DevTools extension, could use showItemInFolder handling to execute native code outside the sandbox when DevTools is opened for windows exposed to untrusted content or untrusted DevTools extensions. This issue is fixed in 39.8.9, 40.9.2, 41.2.1, and 42.0.0-beta.3.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00186 8th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed electron (electron): 39.8.9, 40.9.2, 41.2.1 +1electron (npm): 39.8.9, 40.9.2, 41.2.1 +1
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- 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
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| electron | electron | before 39.8.9; 40.0.0-alpha.1 to before 40.9.2; 41.0.0-alpha.1 to before 41.2.1; 42.0.0-alpha.1 to before 42.0.0-beta.3 | 39.8.9, 40.9.2, 41.2.1, 42.0.0-beta.3 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | electron (npm) | before 39.8.9 | 39.8.9 | Patch available | GHSA-f2r8-jv7c-xqmp |
| — | electron (npm) | 40.0.0-alpha.1 to before 40.9.2 | 40.9.2 | Patch available | GHSA-f2r8-jv7c-xqmp |
| — | electron (npm) | 41.0.0-alpha.1 to before 41.2.1 | 41.2.1 | Patch available | GHSA-f2r8-jv7c-xqmp |
| — | electron (npm) | 42.0.0-alpha.1 to before 42.0.0-beta.3 | 42.0.0-beta.3 | Patch available | GHSA-f2r8-jv7c-xqmp |
- electron Vendorelectron Affected before 39.8.9; 40.0.0-alpha.1 to before 40.9.2; 41.0.0-alpha.1 to before 41.2.1; 42.0.0-alpha.1 to before 42.0.0-beta.3 Fixed in 39.8.9, 40.9.2, 41.2.1, 42.0.0-beta.3 Patch available CNA
- electron (npm) Vendor— Affected before 39.8.9 Fixed in 39.8.9 Patch available GHSA-f2r8-jv7c-xqmp
- electron (npm) Vendor— Affected 40.0.0-alpha.1 to before 40.9.2 Fixed in 40.9.2 Patch available GHSA-f2r8-jv7c-xqmp
- electron (npm) Vendor— Affected 41.0.0-alpha.1 to before 41.2.1 Fixed in 41.2.1 Patch available GHSA-f2r8-jv7c-xqmp
- electron (npm) Vendor— Affected 42.0.0-alpha.1 to before 42.0.0-beta.3 Fixed in 42.0.0-beta.3 Patch available GHSA-f2r8-jv7c-xqmp
CPE configurations NVD · 9
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | before 39.8.9; 40.0.0 to before 40.9.2; 41.0.0 to before 41.2.1 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:42.0.0:alpha1:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 42.0.0 alpha1 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:42.0.0:alpha2:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 42.0.0 alpha2 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:42.0.0:alpha3:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 42.0.0 alpha3 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:42.0.0:alpha4:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 42.0.0 alpha4 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:42.0.0:alpha5:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 42.0.0 alpha5 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:42.0.0:alpha6:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 42.0.0 alpha6 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:42.0.0:beta1:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 42.0.0 beta1 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
| cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:42.0.0:beta2:*:*:*:node.js:*:* | 42.0.0 beta2 | Vulnerable | Electronjs |
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions before 39.8.9; 40.0.0 to before 40.9.2; 41.0.0 to before 41.2.1 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:42.0.0:alpha1:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 42.0.0 alpha1 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:42.0.0:alpha2:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 42.0.0 alpha2 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:42.0.0:alpha3:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 42.0.0 alpha3 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:42.0.0:alpha4:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 42.0.0 alpha4 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:42.0.0:alpha5:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 42.0.0 alpha5 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:42.0.0:alpha6:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 42.0.0 alpha6 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:42.0.0:beta1:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 42.0.0 beta1 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
- cpe:2.3:a:electronjs:electron:42.0.0:beta2:*:*:*:node.js:*:* Versions 42.0.0 beta2 Vulnerable ·Electronjs
Remediation
- Fix · CNA electron (electron) Fixed in 39.8.9, 40.9.2, 41.2.1, 42.0.0-beta.3
- Fix · GHSA-f2r8-jv7c-xqmp electron (npm) Fixed in 39.8.9 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-f2r8-jv7c-xqmp electron (npm) Fixed in 40.9.2 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-f2r8-jv7c-xqmp electron (npm) Fixed in 41.2.1 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-f2r8-jv7c-xqmp electron (npm) Fixed in 42.0.0-beta.3 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-70611
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-f2r8-jv7c-xqmp
- 2026-11-03 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Patch 8
- https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50937
- https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50938
- https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/51114
- https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/51115
- https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/10fb5b39c5287f70c4bbcab4c24197f3871ec322
- https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/1b8a298d629d5a642c816ea5f7505359de17b771
- https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/27bf1cae9274d5025684c7268496f435b7e06b44
- https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/7a1eb7e5585991b3726cedb890a6244f327f43de
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-2026-70611 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-70611 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-f2r8-jv7c-xqmp · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences