Electron: DevTools JavaScript Injection via Unsanitized Dock State Parameter
Impact
The mode option of webContents.openDevTools() was not sanitized before use by the DevTools frontend. If an attacker can influence this value, script under their control may run in the DevTools context, which in unsandboxed configurations has access to Node.js.
Apps are only affected if untrusted input can reach the mode argument of openDevTools(), or if untrusted content can call openDevTools() on a <webview> it embeds. Apps that only ever pass a fixed dock mode are not affected.
Workarounds
Only pass fixed, allowlisted values (right, bottom, undocked, detach) as the DevTools mode, and do not expose openDevTools to untrusted content.
Fixed Versions
42.0.0-beta.141.2.040.9.039.8.7
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, email Electron at security@electronjs.org
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | electron | < 39.8.7, >= 40.0.0-alpha.1, < 40.9.0, >= 41.0.0-alpha.1, < 41.2.0, >= 42.0.0-alpha.1, < 42.0.0-beta.1 | 39.8.7, 40.9.0, 41.2.0, 42.0.0-beta.1 |
References
- https://github.com/electron/electron/security/advisories/GHSA-4f78-qhmw-8j8m
- https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50665
- https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50666
- https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50667
- https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50668
- https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/04614eed17986bddc43eb509ec870424ee6a47d1
- https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/2046ae87731d80a7b535512ae19acb529e10e33b
- https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/969741f9f847c5c583f6bbc63ca22549dbd954ce
- https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/efc4d3c6b6f1c04f658ca0d9d2512dcfe78eb7ba
- https://github.com/electron/electron
- https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v39.8.7
- https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v40.9.0
- https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v41.2.0
- https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v42.0.0-beta.1
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-116, CWE-94- Platform
- npm
- Package
electron- Disclosed
- 05.08.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-4f78-qhmw-8j8m - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: electron
All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 71
- First → latest
- 10.2017 09.2026
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 3
Severity breakdown
- Critical 3
- High 26
- Medium 32
- Low 10
Disclosures per year
- 2017: 1
- 2018: 5
- 2019: 0
- 2020: 6
- 2021: 2
- 2022: 7
- 2023: 6
- 2024: 0
- 2025: 3
- 2026: 41
-
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