Electron is a framework for writing cross-platform desktop applications using JavaScript, HTML and CSS. Prior to 39.8.8, 40.9.0, 41.2.1, and 42.0.0-beta.3, requests to open external protocol URLs from web content did not take iframe sandbox restrictions into account, so a sandboxed iframe could cause an OS-registered external application to be launched. The frame sandbox state was also not made available to the app permission handlers, affecting apps that render untrusted content in sandboxed iframes and grant the openExternal permission by default when no setPermissionRequestHandler is installed. This issue is fixed in 39.8.8, 40.9.0, 41.2.1, and 42.0.0-beta.3.
Weakness
The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.
Extended Description
Access control involves the use of several protection mechanisms such as:
When any mechanism is not applied or otherwise fails, attackers can compromise the security of the product by gaining privileges, reading sensitive information, executing commands, evading detection, etc. There are two distinct behaviors that can introduce access control weaknesses:
Potential Mitigations
- Compartmentalize the system to have “safe” areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area.
- Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.
Related Attack Patterns
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/19.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/441.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/478.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/479.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/502.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/503.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/536.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/546.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/550.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/551.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/552.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/556.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/558.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/562.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/563.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/564.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/578.html
References
- https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/08b9d0a220e267d1a2402a44bdd01a2e9aa320b5
- https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/2764e4c35168855f614876051823db4f58a3714a
- https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/477dcf7afc6550715f9ec5e6f39ee38e5dd7bf39
- https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/c39e3d5687d57434c8d5fe814c5152efd2f631c3
- https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50961
- https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50962
- https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50963
- https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50964
- https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v39.8.8
- https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v40.9.0
- https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v41.2.1
- https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v42.0.0-beta.3
- https://github.com/electron/electron/security/advisories/GHSA-p2rr-rvmm-c5fp