Electron: Local race condition in Squirrel.Mac update installation on macOS
Impact
On macOS, Electron bundles the Squirrel.Mac auto-update framework, whose privileged ShipIt helper performs the final step of an update as root. A local attacker could cause that helper to overwrite a different application's files, as root, instead of the app that started the update. Exploitation requires local access to the machine.
Apps are only affected on macOS if they ship Squirrel.Mac-based auto-updates. Apps on other platforms, or that do not use Squirrel.Mac auto-updates, are not affected.
Workarounds
There are no app side workarounds, you must update to a patched version of Electron.
Fixed Versions
42.0.0-beta.241.10.539.8.10
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, email us at security@electronjs.org
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | electron | < 39.8.10, >= 40.0.0-alpha.1, < 41.10.5, >= 42.0.0-alpha.1, < 42.0.0-beta.2 | 39.8.10, 41.10.5, 42.0.0-beta.2 |
References
- https://github.com/electron/electron/security/advisories/GHSA-vv43-5jgx-7qv8
- https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50745
- https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/01faabfc250801a980fc94d64608046c67fc1cd9
- https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/15e2928a5c5f01759107b414010e220d90d59cef
- https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/a0f9ff4cc0340545008424232d49caadd9c0c767
- https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/b8f25c4cedb2e0f5f475912b709aba19c57c26be
- https://github.com/electron/electron
- https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v39.8.10
- https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v41.10.5
- https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v42.0.0-beta.2
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-367- Platform
- npm
- Package
electron- Disclosed
- 29.09.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-vv43-5jgx-7qv8 - 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
-
Electron: Local race condition in Squirrel.Mac update installation on macOS this entry
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