CVE-2026-70603: Input Validation

Published Aug 5, 2026
·
Updated

Impact shell.openPath() did not reject paths containing embedded null bytes. Apps that perform string-only validation of file paths (for example, checking the file extension) before passing them to shell.openPath() could be bypassed, allowing an attacker-controlled path to open a different file than the one that passed validation.

Apps are only affected if they pass paths derived from untrusted input to shell.openPath() and rely on string-based validation without a filesystem check. Node's fs APIs already reject paths containing null bytes, so apps that call fs.existsSync(), fs.stat(), or similar before shell.openPath() are not affected. Apps that do not call shell.openPath() with untrusted input are not affected.

Workarounds Reject any path containing a null byte before passing it to shell.openPath(): js if (filePath.includes('\0')) throw new Error('invalid path');

Fixed Versions 42.0.0-beta.1 41.1.1 40.9.0 39.8.6

For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, email us at security@electronjs.org

Affected Software

4 affected componentsFixes available
npm/electron<39.8.6
39.8.6
npm/electron>=40.0.0-alpha.1<40.9.0
40.9.0
npm/electron>=41.0.0-alpha.1<41.1.1
41.1.1
npm/electron>=42.0.0-alpha.1<42.0.0-beta.1
42.0.0-beta.1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade npm/electron to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 39.8.6
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade npm/electron to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 40.9.0
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade npm/electron to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 41.1.1
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade npm/electron to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 42.0.0-beta.1
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade electron/electron to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 39.8.6
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade electron/electron to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 40.9.0
  7. Upgrade

    Upgrade electron/electron to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 41.1.1
  8. Upgrade

    Upgrade electron/electron to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 42.0.0-beta.1
  9. Configuration

    In any code path where untrusted input is used to build the argument to `shell.openPath()`, reject the path if it contains a null byte (\0) before calling `shell.openPath()`. Example: `if (filePath.includes('\0')) throw new Error('invalid path');`

    Electron main process (shell.openPath usage) Path validation = Reject paths containing embedded null bytes before calling shell.openPath()

Event History

Aug 5, 2026
Advisory Published
via GitHub·03:57 PM
Data Sourced
via GitHub·03:57 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
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CVE-2026-70603 - Input Validation - SecAlerts