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CVE-2026-70611: CVE-2026-70611: Sandbox Escape and Command Execution via DevTools Shell Integration in Electron

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CVE-2026-70611: Sandbox Escape and Command Execution via DevTools Shell Integration in Electron

Vulnerability ID: CVE-2026-70611
CVSS Score: 6.9
Published: 2026-08-05

A high-severity sandbox escape and arbitrary command execution vulnerability exists in the Electron desktop framework prior to versions 39.8.9, 40.9.2, 41.2.1, and 42.0.0-beta.3. The flaw lies in the handling of DevTools embedder messages during file manager reveal actions, allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary binaries with main process privileges.

TL;DR

Unsanitized file paths sent via DevTools IPC to the main process can trigger arbitrary code execution by exploiting OS shell file launching handlers.

⚠️ Exploit Status: POC

Technical Details

  • CWE ID: CWE-78
  • Attack Vector: Local (AV:L)
  • CVSS Score: 6.9
  • EPSS Score: Not Available
  • Impact: Sandbox Escape & Arbitrary Code Execution
  • Exploit Status: Proof-of-Concept (PoC) documented
  • KEV Status: Not Listed

Affected Systems

  • Electron desktop applications running on Windows
  • Electron desktop applications running on macOS
  • Electron desktop applications running on Linux
  • Electron: < 39.8.9 (Fixed in: 39.8.9)
  • Electron: >= 40.0.0-alpha.1, < 40.9.2 (Fixed in: 40.9.2)
  • Electron: >= 41.0.0-alpha.1, < 41.2.1 (Fixed in: 41.2.1)
  • Electron: >= 42.0.0-alpha.1, < 42.0.0-beta.3 (Fixed in: 42.0.0-beta.3)

Code Analysis

Commit: 10fb5b3

Fix: DevTools embedder handler security fix on release branch 39

Commit: 1b8a298

Fix: DevTools embedder handler security fix on release branch 40

Commit: 27bf1ca

Fix: DevTools embedder handler security fix on release branch 41

Commit: 7a1eb7e

Fix: DevTools embedder handler security fix on release branch 42

Exploit Details

  • GitHub Advisory: Official advisory detailing the security flaw and containing references to vulnerability parameters.

Mitigation Strategies

  • Update Electron dependencies to patched versions (39.8.9+, 40.9.2+, 41.2.1+, 42.0.0-beta.3+).
  • Disable DevTools access programmatically in production environments.
  • Enforce context isolation, sandboxing, and restrict DevTools extension loading.

Remediation Steps:

  1. Audit package.json to identify the current Electron version.
  2. Update Electron dependency using standard package managers (npm install electron@latest or yarn upgrade electron).
  3. Verify the application build pipeline does not bundle or allow access to DevTools in production targets.
  4. Implement process creation monitoring to detect execution anomalies originating from Electron parent processes.

References

Read the full report for CVE-2026-70611 on our website for more details including interactive diagrams and full exploit analysis.

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