CVE-2026-70597: Electron: Parent process code-sign check is spoofable

Severity: medium (CVSS 6.3 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.1% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2026-08-05 · updated 2026-10-08
Weakness: CWE-367

Description

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, the check Electron uses on macOS to confirm it was launched by a same-signed parent process could be bypassed by a local process. Apps that enable fuse-based hardening restricting ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE and NODE_OPTIONS to same-signed parents rely on this check, and a local attacker could bypass it and run code inside the signed app, inheriting its TCC permissions and keychain access. This issue is fixed in 39.8.8, 40.9.0, 41.2.1, and 42.0.0-beta.3.

Affected products

electron: before 39.8.8; from 40.0.0 before 40.9.0; from 41.0.0 through 41.2.1; 42.0.0-alpha1, 42.0.0-alpha2, 42.0.0-alpha3, 42.0.0-alpha4, 42.0.0-alpha5, 42.0.0-alpha6 (+2) — fixed in 39.8.8, 40.9.0

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: electron 39.8.8, 40.9.0. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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