Electron webPreferences vulnerability can be used to perform remote code execution
GitHub Electron 1.7.15, 1.8.7, 2.0.7, and 3.0.0-beta.6, in certain scenarios involving IFRAME elements and "nativeWindowOpen: true" or "sandbox: true" options, is affected by a webPreferences vulnerability that can be leveraged to perform remote code execution.
More information to determine if you are impacted can be found on the electron blog.
Recommendation
Upgrade Electron to >=3.0.0-beta.7, >=2.0.8, >=1.8.8, or >=1.7.16.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | electron | >= 1.7.0, < 1.7.16, >= 1.8.0, < 1.8.8, >= 2.0.0, < 2.0.8, >= 3.0.0-beta.1, < 3.0.0-beta.7 | 1.7.16, 1.8.8, 2.0.8, 3.0.0-beta.7 |
References
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-15685
- https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/519a02d8d4d28e8a467acb40fb26172a80c9454f
- https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/80221e52d93a96ea704cb6748ead669c55cff504
- https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/bab968ca776be28791e4dddfd50c86bd5fae62fa
- https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/ef0a6d9a1c96efc4657c6dd3a6624eba969f095b
- https://electronjs.org/blog/web-preferences-fix
- https://github.com/electron/electron
- https://www.contrastsecurity.com/security-influencers/cve-2018-15685
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45272
- https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/732
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-1188- Platform
- npm
- Package
electron- Disclosed
- 23.08.2018
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-hv9c-qwqg-qj3v - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: electron
All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 71
- First → latest
- 10.2017 09.2026
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 3
Severity breakdown
- Critical 3
- High 26
- Medium 32
- Low 10
Disclosures per year
- 2017: 1
- 2018: 5
- 2019: 0
- 2020: 6
- 2021: 2
- 2022: 7
- 2023: 6
- 2024: 0
- 2025: 3
- 2026: 41
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Electron webPreferences vulnerability can be used to perform remote code execution this entry
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