Element Desktop is a Matrix client for desktop platforms with Element Web at its core. Element Desktop before 1.9.7 is vulnerable to a remote program execution bug with user interaction. The exploit is non-trivial and requires clicking on a malicious link, followed by another button click. To the best of our knowledge, the vulnerability has never been exploited in the wild. If you are using Element Desktop < 1.9.7, we recommend upgrading at your earliest convenience. If successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows an attacker to specify a file path of a binary on the victim's computer which then gets executed. Notably, the attacker does not have the ability to specify program arguments. However, in certain unspecified configurations, the attacker may be able to specify an URI instead of a file path which then gets handled using standard platform mechanisms. These may allow exploiting further vulnerabilities in those mechanisms, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.

Element Android is an Android Matrix Client. Element Android version 1.4.3 through 1.6.10 is vulnerable to intent redirection, allowing a third-party malicious application to start any internal activity by passing some extra parameters. Possible impact includes making Element Android display an arbitrary web page, executing arbitrary JavaScript; bypassing PIN code protection; and account takeover by spawning a login screen to send credentials to an arbitrary home server. This issue is fixed in Element Android 1.6.12. There is no known workaround to mitigate the issue.

MAS (Matrix Authentication Service) is a user management and authentication service for Matrix homeservers, written and maintained by Element. A logic flaw in matrix-authentication-service 0.20.0 through 1.4.0 allows an attacker with access to an authenticated MAS session to perform sensitive operations without entering the current password. These include changing the current password, adding or removing an e-mail address and deactivating the account. The vulnerability only affects instances which have the local password database feature enabled (passwords section in the config). Patched in matrix-authentication-service 1.4.1.

Element Desktop is a Matrix client for desktop platforms. Element Desktop versions 1.11.70 through 1.11.80 contain a vulnerability which can, under specially crafted conditions, lead to the access token becoming exposed to third parties. At least one vector has been identified internally, involving malicious widgets, but other vectors may exist. Users are strongly advised to upgrade to version 1.11.81 to remediate the issue. As a workaround, avoid granting permissions to untrusted widgets.

Element is a Matrix web client built using the Matrix React SDK. Element Web versions 1.11.70 through 1.11.80 contain a vulnerability which can, under specially crafted conditions, lead to the access token becoming exposed to third parties. At least one vector has been identified internally, involving malicious widgets, but other vectors may exist. Note that despite superficial similarity to CVE-2024-47771, this is an entirely separate vulnerability, caused by a separate piece of code included only in Element Web. Element Web and Element Desktop share most but not all, of their code and this vulnerability exists in the part of the code base which is not shared between the projects. Users are strongly advised to upgrade to version 1.11.81 to remediate the issue. As a workaround, avoid granting permissions to untrusted widgets.

A vulnerability has been identified in Element maps-ng V47 (All versions < V47.12.3), Element maps-ng V48 (All versions < V48.11.3), Element maps-ng V49 (All versions < V49.16.1). The si-map component does not properly neutralize user-controllable input of the points property that is used to render the tooltip label of map pins. This could allow an attacker to craft a malicious URL that, when loaded by a victim and the map pin is hovered over, executes arbitrary script code within the victim's browser session.

Impact

Local authenticated users can cause Synapse to starve other requests of CPU and lead to other requests failing, causing other users to be denied service.

Homeservers that trust all their local users are not at risk.

Patches

Update to Synapse 1.152.1 or later.

Workarounds

If Synapse is deployed behind a reverse proxy, the reverse proxy could be configured to limit the rate of user requests, preventing or increasing the difficulty of the attack.

Identifiers

- ELEMENTSEC-2026-1706

For more information

If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, please email us at security at element.io.

Element X Android is a Matrix Android Client provided by element.io. Prior to version 25.04.2, a crafted hyperlink on a webpage, or a locally installed malicious app, can force Element X up to version 25.04.1 to load a webpage with similar permissions to Element Call and automatically grant it temporary access to microphone and camera. This issue has been patched in version 25.04.2.

Element iOS is an iOS Matrix client provided by Element. It is based on MatrixSDK. Prior to version 1.9.7, events encrypted using Megolm for which trust could not be established did not get decorated accordingly (with warning shields). Therefore a malicious homeserver could inject messages into the room without the user being alerted that the messages were not sent by a verified group member, even if the user has previously verified all group members. This issue has been patched in Element iOS 1.9.7. There are currently no known workarounds.

Element X iOS is a Matrix iOS Client provided by Element. In Element X iOS version between 1.6.13 and 25.03.7, the entity in control of the element.json well-known file is able, under certain conditions, to get access to the media encryption keys used for an Element Call call. This vulnerability is fixed in 25.03.8.

Element X Android is a Matrix Android Client provided by element.io. In Element X Android versions between 0.4.16 and 25.03.3, the entity in control of the element.json well-known file is able, under certain conditions, to get access to the media encryption keys used for an Element Call call. This vulnerability is fixed in 25.03.4.

Element Web is a Matrix web client built using the Matrix React SDK. Prior to 1.12.22, EmbeddedPage in apps/web/src/components/structures/EmbeddedPage.tsx renders homeserver-supplied homepage content through dangerouslySetInnerHTML without passing it through sanitizedHtmlNode. A malicious homeserver can provide crafted HTML that Element Web renders on the homepage; the content security policy prevents JavaScript but not phishing HTML. This issue is fixed in version 1.12.22.

Element Android is an Android Matrix Client provided by Element. Element Android up to version 1.6.32 can, under certain circumstances, fail to logout the user if they input the wrong PIN more than the configured amount of times. An attacker with physical access to a device can exploit this to guess the PIN. Version 1.6.34 solves the issue.

Impact

In federated rooms, malicious homeservers can craft room events in such a way that prevents Synapse from providing full history to paginating clients.

Clients could therefore fail to display room history.

Patches

Update to Synapse 1.152.1 or later.

Workarounds

There are no known workarounds for this issue.

Identifiers

- ELEMENTSEC-2025-1636

For more information

If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, please email us at security at element.io.

Element is a Matrix web client built using the Matrix React SDK. A malicious homeserver can send invalid messages over federation which can prevent Element Web and Desktop from rendering single messages or the entire room containing them. This was patched in Element Web and Desktop 1.11.85.

Element Android is an Android Matrix Client. A third-party malicious application installed on the same phone can force Element Android, version 0.91.0 through 1.6.12, to share files stored under the files directory in the application's private data directory to an arbitrary room. The impact of the attack is reduced by the fact that the databases stored in this folder are encrypted. However, it contains some other potentially sensitive information, such as the FCM token. Forks of Element Android which have set android:exported="false" in the AndroidManifest.xml file for the IncomingShareActivity activity are not impacted. This issue is fixed in Element Android 1.6.12. There is no known workaround to mitigate the issue.

Element Web is a Matrix web client built using the Matrix React SDK. Element Web, starting from version 1.11.16 up to version 1.11.96, can be configured to load Element Call from an external URL. Under certain conditions, the external page is able to get access to the media encryption keys used for an Element Call call. Version 1.11.97 fixes the problem.

Element is a Matrix web client built using the Matrix React SDK. Versions of Element Web and Desktop earlier than 1.11.85 do not check if thumbnails for attachments, stickers and images are coherent. It is possible to add thumbnails to events trigger a file download once clicked. Fixed in element-web 1.11.85.

Element Web is a Matrix web client built using the Matrix React SDK. Element Web and Element Desktop before version 1.11.112 have insufficient validation of room predecessor links, allowing a remote attacker to attempt to impermanently replace a room's entry in the room list with an unrelated attacker-supplied room. While the effect of this is temporary, it may still confuse users into acting on incorrect assumptions. The issue has been patched and users should upgrade to 1.11.112. A reload/refresh will fix the incorrect room list state, removing the attacker's room and restoring the original room.