---
id: CVE-2026-70609
title: >-
  Electron is a framework for writing cross-platform desktop applications using
  JavaScript, HTML and CSS
summary: >-
  Electron is a framework for writing cross-platform desktop applications using
  JavaScript, HTML and CSS. Prior to 39.8.7, 40.9.0, 41.2.0, and 42.0.0-beta.1,
  the mode option of webContents.openDevTools() was not sanitized before use by
  the…
severity: medium
cvss: 5.7
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'
cwe:
  - CWE-94
  - CWE-116
vendor: electron
product: electron
affected:
  - electron < 39.8.7
  - 'electron >= 40.0.0-alpha.1, < 40.9.0'
  - 'electron >= 41.0.0-alpha.1, < 41.2.0'
  - 'electron >= 42.0.0-alpha.1, < 42.0.0-beta.1'
patched:
  - electron 39.8.7
  - electron 40.9.0
  - electron 41.2.0
  - electron 42.0.0-beta.1
published: '2026-08-05'
updated: '2026-09-08'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-08T20:44:08.253'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-70609'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/04614eed17986bddc43eb509ec870424ee6a47d1
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/2046ae87731d80a7b535512ae19acb529e10e33b
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/969741f9f847c5c583f6bbc63ca22549dbd954ce
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/electron/electron/commit/efc4d3c6b6f1c04f658ca0d9d2512dcfe78eb7ba
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50665'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50666'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50667'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/electron/electron/pull/50668'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v39.8.7'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v40.9.0'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v41.2.0'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/electron/electron/releases/tag/v42.0.0-beta.1'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/electron/electron/security/advisories/GHSA-4f78-qhmw-8j8m
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-4f78-qhmw-8j8m'
tags:
  - nvd
  - ghsa
  - npm
epss: 0.00403
epssPercentile: 0.34429
aliases:
  - GHSA-4f78-qhmw-8j8m
ecosystem: npm
ingestedAt: '2026-08-05T17:49:58.156Z'
---

## Overview

Electron is a framework for writing cross-platform desktop applications using JavaScript, HTML and CSS. Prior to 39.8.7, 40.9.0, 41.2.0, and 42.0.0-beta.1, the mode option of webContents.openDevTools() was not sanitized before use by the DevTools frontend. If an attacker can influence this value, script under their control may run in the DevTools context, which in unsandboxed configurations has access to Node.js, including when untrusted input reaches the mode argument of openDevTools() or untrusted content calls openDevTools() on a webview it embeds. This issue is fixed in 39.8.7, 40.9.0, 41.2.0, and 42.0.0-beta.1.

## Remediation

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

## Package advisory (CVE-2026-70609)

Affected packages:

- `electron < 39.8.7`
- `electron >= 40.0.0-alpha.1, < 40.9.0`
- `electron >= 41.0.0-alpha.1, < 41.2.0`
- `electron >= 42.0.0-alpha.1, < 42.0.0-beta.1`

Patched in:

- `electron 39.8.7`
- `electron 40.9.0`
- `electron 41.2.0`
- `electron 42.0.0-beta.1`

Source: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-4f78-qhmw-8j8m