Impact
When a renderer calls window.open() with a target name, Electron did not correctly scope the named-window lookup to the opener's browsing context group. A renderer could navigate an existing child window that was opened by a different, unrelated renderer if both used the same target name. If that existing child was created with more permissive webPreferences (via setWindowOpenHandler's overrideBrowserWindowOptions), content loaded by the second renderer inherits those permissions.
Apps are only affected if they open multiple top-level windows with differing trust levels and use setWindowOpenHandler to grant child windows elevated webPreferences such as a privileged preload script. Apps that do not elevate child window privileges, or that use a single top-level window, are not affected.
Apps that additionally grant nodeIntegration: true or sandbox: false to child windows (contrary to the security recommendations) may be exposed to arbitrary code execution.
Workarounds
Deny window.open() in renderers that load untrusted content by returning { action: 'deny' } from setWindowOpenHandler. Avoid granting child windows more permissive webPreferences than their opener.
Fixed Versions
42.0.0-alpha.541.1.040.8.539.8.5
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, email us at security@electronjs.org
References
Impact
When a renderer calls
window.open()with a target name, Electron did not correctly scope the named-window lookup to the opener's browsing context group. A renderer could navigate an existing child window that was opened by a different, unrelated renderer if both used the same target name. If that existing child was created with more permissivewebPreferences(viasetWindowOpenHandler'soverrideBrowserWindowOptions), content loaded by the second renderer inherits those permissions.Apps are only affected if they open multiple top-level windows with differing trust levels and use
setWindowOpenHandlerto grant child windows elevatedwebPreferencessuch as a privileged preload script. Apps that do not elevate child window privileges, or that use a single top-level window, are not affected.Apps that additionally grant
nodeIntegration: trueorsandbox: falseto child windows (contrary to the security recommendations) may be exposed to arbitrary code execution.Workarounds
Deny
window.open()in renderers that load untrusted content by returning{ action: 'deny' }fromsetWindowOpenHandler. Avoid granting child windows more permissivewebPreferencesthan their opener.Fixed Versions
42.0.0-alpha.541.1.040.8.539.8.5For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, email us at security@electronjs.org
References