CVE-2026-70612: Electron Sandboxed Iframes Can Launch External Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-p2rr-rvmm-c5fp
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CVSS 5.4
CWE-284
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-70612 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.4) sandboxed iframes can launch external vulnerability (CWE-284: Improper Access Control) affecting Electron libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves sandboxed iframes can launch external protocol handlers. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 39.8.8, 40.9.0, 41.2.1, 42.0.0-beta.3.

CVE-2026-70612 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-70612
GHSA Identifier GHSA-p2rr-rvmm-c5fp
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.4
CWE Classification CWE-284: Improper Access Control
Affected Product Electron
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.4

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2026-70612

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.

electron fixed: 39.8.8 
npm install electron@39.8.8
electron fixed: 40.9.0 
npm install electron@40.9.0
electron fixed: 41.2.1 
npm install electron@41.2.1
electron fixed: 42.0.0-beta.3 
npm install electron@42.0.0-beta.3
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

npm ls electron

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2026-70612, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls electron

Analyze 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 39.8.8), 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-284: Improper Access Control, where the product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor. 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

### Impact 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's sandbox state was also not made available to the app's permission handlers. Apps are only affected if they render untrusted content in sandboxed iframes and grant the `openExternal` permission (granted by default when no `setPermissionRequestHandler` is installed). Apps whose permission handler denies `openExternal` for untrusted content are not affected. ### Workarounds Install a `setPermissionRequestHandler` that denies the `openExternal` permission for untrusted content. ### Fixed Versions * `42.0.0-beta.3` * `41.2.1` * `40.9.0` * `39.8.8` ### For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, email Electron at [security@electronjs.org](mailto:security@electronjs.org)

CVE-2026-70612 Affected Electron Versions

4 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
39.8.840.9.041.2.142.0.0-beta.3
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
electron
npm/electron
npm
< 39.8.8
39.8.8
electron
npm/electron
npm
≥ 40.0.0-alpha.1
< 40.9.0
40.9.0
electron
npm/electron
npm
≥ 41.0.0-alpha.1
< 41.2.1
41.2.1
electron
npm/electron
npm
≥ 42.0.0-alpha.1
< 42.0.0-beta.3
42.0.0-beta.3

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/electron/electron/security/advisories/GHSA-p2rr-rvmm-c5fp
Electron Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50961
Electron Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50962
Electron Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50963
Electron Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50964
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/08b9d0a220e267d1a2402a44bdd01a2e9aa320b5
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/2764e4c35168855f614876051823db4f58a3714a
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/477dcf7afc6550715f9ec5e6f39ee38e5dd7bf39
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/c39e3d5687d57434c8d5fe814c5152efd2f631c3
Electron Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/electron/electron
Electron Release RELEASE
https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v39.8.8
Electron Release RELEASE
https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v40.9.0
Electron Release RELEASE
https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v41.2.1
Electron Release RELEASE
https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v42.0.0-beta.3

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-70612?
CVE-2026-70612 is a security vulnerability in Electron involving Sandboxed iframes can launch external protocol handlers under CWE-284: Improper Access Control.
Which Electron versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 39.8.8, 40.9.0, 41.2.1, 42.0.0-beta.3 across affected packages: electron.
What version fixes CVE-2026-70612?
Upgrading to 39.8.8, 40.9.0, 41.2.1, 42.0.0-beta.3 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is electron affected?
Yes, electron is affected in releases prior to 39.8.8, 40.9.0, 41.2.1, 42.0.0-beta.3. Upgrade your dependency to 39.8.8, 40.9.0, 41.2.1, 42.0.0-beta.3 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-70612?
CVE-2026-70612 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.4 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-70612?
CVE-2026-70612 is classified under CWE-284: Improper Access Control (The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-70612?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls electron'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-p2rr-rvmm-c5fp",
  "modified" : "2026-08-05T17:56:50Z",
  "published" : "2026-08-05T17:56:50Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-70612" ],
  "summary" : "Electron: Sandboxed iframes can launch external protocol handlers",
  "details" : "### Impact\nRequests 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's sandbox state was also not made available to the app's permission handlers.\n\nApps are only affected if they render untrusted content in sandboxed iframes and grant the `openExternal` permission (granted by default when no `setPermissionRequestHandler` is installed). Apps whose permission handler denies `openExternal` for untrusted content are not affected.\n\n### Workarounds\nInstall a `setPermissionRequestHandler` that denies the `openExternal` permission for untrusted content.\n\n### Fixed Versions\n* `42.0.0-beta.3`\n* `41.2.1`\n* `40.9.0`\n* `39.8.8`\n\n### For more information\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory, email Electron at [security@electronjs.org](mailto:security@electronjs.org)",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "electron"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "39.8.8"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
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    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
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      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
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    "ranges" : [ {
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      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
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    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
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      }, {
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      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/electron/electron/security/advisories/GHSA-p2rr-rvmm-c5fp"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50961"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50962"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50963"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50964"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/08b9d0a220e267d1a2402a44bdd01a2e9aa320b5"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/2764e4c35168855f614876051823db4f58a3714a"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/477dcf7afc6550715f9ec5e6f39ee38e5dd7bf39"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/c39e3d5687d57434c8d5fe814c5152efd2f631c3"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/electron/electron"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v39.8.8"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v40.9.0"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v41.2.1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v42.0.0-beta.3"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-284" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-08-05T17:56:50Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}