GitHub Advisoryadvisory · npm

GHSA-9jxc-qjr9-vjxq electron-updater Code Signing Bypass on Windows

HIGH Published 2024-07-09 Modified 2024-07-12 Official page ↗
Aliases
CVE-2024-39698
Ecosystem
npm
Packages
electron-updater
Severity
High
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weaknesses
CWE-154, CWE-295
Reviewed
2024-07-09

Affected packages

• npm electron-updater: < 6.3.0-alpha.6 → fixed in 6.3.0-alpha.6

Description

Observations The file `packages/electron-updater/src/windowsExecutableCodeSignatureVerifier.ts` implements the signature validation routine for Electron applications on Windows. It executes the following command in a new shell (`process.env.ComSpec` on Windows, usually `C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe`): https://github.com/electron-userland/electron-builder/blob/140e2f0eb0df79c2a46e35024e96d0563355fc89/packages/electron-updater/src/windowsExecutableCodeSignatureVerifier.ts#L35-L41 Because of the surrounding shell, a first pass by `cmd.exe` expands any environment variable found in command-line above. Exploitation This creates a situation where `verifySignature()` can be tricked into validating the certificate of a different file than the one that was just downloaded. If the step is successful, the malicious update will be executed even if its signature is invalid. Impact This attack assumes a compromised update manifest (server compromise, Man-in-the-Middle attack if fetched over HTTP, Cross-Site Scripting to point the application to a malicious updater server, etc.). Patch This vulnerability was patched in #8295, by comparing the path in the output of `Get-AuthenticodeSignature` with the intended one. The patch is available starting from 6.3.0-alpha.6.

Related

Alias · CVE (1)

  • CVE-2024-39698 electron-updater allows for automatic updates for Electron apps. vulnerability

Weakness · CWE (2)

  • CWE-154 Improper Neutralization of Variable Name Delimiters weakness
  • CWE-295 Improper Certificate Validation weakness

References