CVE-2020-15096
Context Isolation Bypass vulnerability in electron (npm)
What is CVE-2020-15096 About?
CVE-2020-15096 describes a context isolation bypass vulnerability affecting Electron apps using `contextIsolation`. This allows code running in the main world renderer context to access and perform privileged actions within the isolated Electron context, leading to potential security bypasses.
Affected Software
- electron
- >7.0.0, <7.2.4
- <6.1.11
- >8.0.0, <8.2.4
Technical Details
The vulnerability is a context isolation bypass in Electron, affecting applications that utilize contextIsolation. In Electron, context isolation is designed to prevent JavaScript code running in the main world context of the renderer process from directly interacting with internal Electron modules and the Node.js environment. However, due to this flaw, code executing in the main world context can illicitly "reach into" or bridge into the isolated Electron context. This allows it to bypass the security mechanisms of context isolation, gain access to privileged APIs, and consequently execute privileged actions that should normally be restricted, effectively breaking the intended security boundary between the untrusted web content and the trusted Electron environment.
What is the Impact of CVE-2020-15096?
Successful exploitation may allow attackers to bypass security boundaries, perform privileged actions within the Electron environment, and potentially achieve remote code execution in the main process, leading to complete compromise of the application and potentially the underlying system.
What is the Exploitability of CVE-2020-15096?
Exploitation of this context isolation bypass requires code execution within the renderer's main world context. This typically means the attacker needs to inject malicious JavaScript into the application (e.g., via XSS in web content rendered by Electron). The complexity is moderate to high, as it involves understanding the Electron internal mechanisms and the specific bypass vector. No direct authentication is required for the bypass itself once code execution is achieved in rendering context. It is a local vulnerability in the context of the Electron application, but the initial code injection could be remote. There are no app-side workarounds, meaning the only mitigation is to update Electron, which increases the likelihood of exploitation for unpatched applications.
What are the Known Public Exploits?
| PoC Author | Link | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| No known exploits | ||
What are the Available Fixes for CVE-2020-15096?
Available Upgrade Options
- electron
- <6.1.11 → Upgrade to 6.1.11
- electron
- >7.0.0, <7.2.4 → Upgrade to 7.2.4
- electron
- >8.0.0, <8.2.4 → Upgrade to 8.2.4
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Book a demoAdditional Resources
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-15096
- https://www.electronjs.org/releases/stable?page=3#release-notes-for-v824
- https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-6vrv-94jv-crrg
- https://github.com/electron/electron/security/advisories/GHSA-6vrv-94jv-crrg
- https://www.electronjs.org/releases/stable?page=3#release-notes-for-v824
- https://github.com/electron/electron/security/advisories/GHSA-6vrv-94jv-crrg
What are Similar Vulnerabilities to CVE-2020-15096?
Similar Vulnerabilities: CVE-2018-1000007 , CVE-2018-1000136 , CVE-2018-1000612 , CVE-2019-1491 , CVE-2021-22927
