CVE-2026-34773: Electron Registry Key Path Injection Vulnerability
MODERATECVE-2026-34773 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.7) registry key path injection vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Electron libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves registry key path injection in app.setasdefaultprotocolclient on windows. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 38.8.6, 39.8.1, 40.8.1, 41.0.0.
CVE-2026-34773 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 4.7
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N).
How to Fix CVE-2026-34773
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Electron dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
npm install electron@38.8.6npm install electron@39.8.1npm install electron@40.8.1npm install electron@41.0.0Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
npm ls electronHow to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2026-34773, inspect your project dependencies using npm:
npm ls electronAnalyze the terminal output to locate any version of Electron in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 38.8.6), your application is affected.
Note: The npm ls electron command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.
Technical Details
Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation, where the product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. In Electron, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.
Source Advisory Statement
CVE-2026-34773 Affected Electron Versions
4 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
electron
|
npm |
< 38.8.6
|
38.8.6
|
|
electron
|
npm |
≥ 39.0.0-alpha.1
< 39.8.1
|
39.8.1
|
|
electron
|
npm |
≥ 40.0.0-alpha.1
< 40.8.1
|
40.8.1
|
|
electron
|
npm |
≥ 41.0.0-alpha.1
< 41.0.0
|
41.0.0
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-34773?
Which Electron versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2026-34773?
Is electron affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-34773?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-34773?
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-34773?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-mwmh-mq4g-g6gr",
"modified" : "2026-04-06T23:10:51Z",
"published" : "2026-04-03T02:41:52Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-34773" ],
"summary" : "Electron: Registry key path injection in app.setAsDefaultProtocolClient on Windows",
"details" : "### Impact\nOn 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.\n\nApps 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.\n\n### Workarounds\nValidate the protocol name matches `/^[a-zA-Z][a-zA-Z0-9+.-]*$/` before passing it to `app.setAsDefaultProtocolClient()`.\n\n### Fixed Versions\n* `41.0.0`\n* `40.8.1`\n* `39.8.1`\n* `38.8.6`\n\n### For more information\nIf there are any questions or comments about this advisory, please email [security@electronjs.org](mailto:security@electronjs.org)",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "npm",
"name" : "electron"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "38.8.6"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "npm",
"name" : "electron"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "39.0.0-alpha.1"
}, {
"fixed" : "39.8.1"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "npm",
"name" : "electron"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "40.0.0-alpha.1"
}, {
"fixed" : "40.8.1"
} ]
} ]
}, {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "npm",
"name" : "electron"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "41.0.0-alpha.1"
}, {
"fixed" : "41.0.0"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/electron/electron/security/advisories/GHSA-mwmh-mq4g-g6gr"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-34773"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/electron/electron"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20", "CWE-74" ],
"severity" : "MODERATE",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2026-04-03T02:41:52Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2026-04-04T00:16:18Z"
}
}