electron: Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity
CVE-2023-44402 is a high-severity insufficient verification of data authenticity vulnerability in electron, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.0 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an unauthenticated attacker, but only if a user takes part, for example by opening a link or file. Affected electron versions: < 22.3.24; >= 23.0.0-alpha.1, <= 23.3.13; >= 24.0.0-alpha.1, < 24.8.3, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.21% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of electron you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Because the attack needs a user to take part, warn users about unexpected links and files related to this product until it is patched.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electron | electron | < 22.3.24; >= 23.0.0-alpha.1, <= 23.3.13; >= 24.0.0-alpha.1, < 24.8.3; >= 25.0.0-alpha.1, < 25.8.1; >= 26.0.0-alpha.1, < 26.2.1; >= 27.0.0-alpha.1, < 27.0.0-alpha.7 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- RequiredA user must take an action such as opening a file or link.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 6.1 | Medium | CNA (github.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.0 | High | NVD |
Official description
Electron is an open source framework for writing cross-platform desktop applications using JavaScript, HTML and CSS. This only impacts apps that have the `embeddedAsarIntegrityValidation` and `onlyLoadAppFromAsar` fuses enabled. Apps without these fuses enabled are not impacted. This issue is specific to macOS as these fuses are only currently supported on macOS. Specifically this issue can only be exploited if your app is launched from a filesystem the attacker has write access too. i.e. the ability to edit files inside the `.app` bundle on macOS which these fuses are supposed to protect against. There are no app side workarounds, you must update to a patched version of Electron.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity
The product does not sufficiently verify the origin or authenticity of data, in a way that causes it to accept invalid data.
More Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity vulnerabilities (CWE-345)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
- github.com/electron/electron/pull/39788Issue Tracking
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in electron
- 7.4 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
Recent Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
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