CVE-2026-34768: Electron: Unquoted executable path in app.setLoginItemSettings on Windows
Impact On Windows, app.setLoginItemSettings({openAtLogin: true}) wrote the executable path to the Run registry key without quoting. If the app is installed to a path containing spaces, an attacker with write access to an ancestor directory may be able to cause a different executable to run at login instead of the intended app.
On a default Windows install, standard system directories are protected against writes by standard users, so exploitation typically requires a non-standard install location.
Workarounds Install the application to a path without spaces, or to a location where all ancestor directories are protected against unauthorized writes.
Fixed Versions 41.0.0-beta.8 40.8.0 39.8.1 38.8.6
For more information If there are any questions or comments about this advisory, send an email to security@electronjs.org
Other sources
Electron is a framework for writing cross-platform desktop applications using JavaScript, HTML and CSS. Prior to versions 38.8.6, 39.8.1, 40.8.0, and 41.0.0-beta.8, on Windows, app.setLoginItemSettings({openAtLogin: true}) wrote the executable path to the Run registry key without quoting. If the app is installed to a path containing spaces, an attacker with write access to an ancestor directory may be able to cause a different executable to run at login instead of the intended app. On a default Windows install, standard system directories are protected against writes by standard users, so exploitation typically requires a non-standard install location. This issue has been patched in versions 38.8.6, 39.8.1, 40.8.0, and 41.0.0-beta.8.
— MITRE
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
npm/electronto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 41.0.0-beta.8 - Upgrade
Upgrade
npm/electronto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 40.8.0 - Upgrade
Upgrade
npm/electronto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 39.8.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
npm/electronto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 38.8.6 - Upgrade
Upgrade
Electronto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 38.8.6 - Upgrade
Upgrade
Electronto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 39.8.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
Electronto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 40.8.0 - Upgrade
Upgrade
Electronto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 41.0.0-beta.8 - Compensating control
Install the application on Windows to a path without spaces, or to a location where all ancestor directories are protected against unauthorized writes (to prevent an attacker from causing a different executable to run at login instead of the intended app via app.setLoginItemSettings({openAtLogin: true})).