Electron: openExternal permission requests can be attributed to the wrong origin

Overview

Electron is a framework for writing cross-platform desktop applications using JavaScript, HTML and CSS. Prior to versions 42.11.3, 43.7.0, 44.3.0, and 45.0.0-alpha.5, requests to open external protocol URLs could be attributed to a document other than the one that initiated them, causing the requestingUrl passed to session.setPermissionRequestHandler to identify trusted content for a launch requested by untrusted content. An application that grants openExternal based on the requesting origin and allows untrusted content to open or navigate windows could therefore allow that content to launch an OS-registered external application. This issue is fixed in versions 42.11.3, 43.7.0, 44.3.0, and 45.0.0-alpha.5.

Affected

• electron < 42.11.3
• electron >= 43.0.0-alpha.1, < 43.7.0
• electron >= 44.0.0-alpha.1, < 44.3.0
• electron >= 45.0.0-alpha.1, < 45.0.0-alpha.5

Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.