CVE-2023-39956 - Critical Security Vulnerability in Electron: Command Line Executables at Risk

Intro:
The Electron framework, a popular tool for writing cross-platform desktop applications using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, has recently been identified as having a security vulnerability. The issue, coded as CVE-2023-39956, is specifically impacting Electron apps launched as command line executables. In this article, we will provide an overview of the vulnerability, explore the original references, discuss the exploit details, and outline the steps that must be taken to mitigate the risk.

Vulnerability Overview

Electron's security vulnerability, CVE-2023-39956, can only be exploited under the following conditions:

The attacker can write files to that working directory.

While these conditions may appear to make the risk relatively low, the issue has been considered of higher importance as it can bypass certain protections like ASAR Integrity. As a result, Electron has stepped up to address this security vulnerability and release patched versions.

Original References

For more information on this vulnerability, refer to the official CVE-2023-39956 advisory and Electron's issue tracker.

Exploit Details

The vulnerability arises when an Electron app is launched from the command line with a working directory under attacker control. Under these conditions, an attacker can leverage the vulnerability to potentially execute malicious code within the Electron app.

Patched Versions

Electron has released patched versions which address this vulnerability. Upgrading to a patched version will resolve the security issue:

* 26..-beta.13
* 25.4.1
* 24.7.1
* 23.3.13
* 22.3.19

There are no app-side workarounds available, so it's necessary for users to update to a patched version of Electron.

Conclusion

In summary, CVE-2023-39956 is a recently identified security vulnerability in the Electron framework, affecting command line executables. While low-risk, it is essential for users to upgrade to a patched version of Electron to eliminate the risk entirely. Original references, including the official advisory and Electron's issue tracker, can provide developers with more information to navigate this issue. As always, it's crucial to remain diligent about security updates and best practices to ensure the safety and integrity of your Electron applications.

Timeline

Published on: 09/06/2023 21:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 09/12/2023 12:32:00 UTC