GitHub Advisoryadvisory · npm

GHSA-f77v-9vpc-6pjm Electerm runWidget has a path traversal that leads to arbitrary code execution

CRITICAL Published 2026-05-08 Modified 2026-05-08 Official page ↗
Aliases
CVE-2026-43940
Ecosystem
npm
Packages
electerm
Severity
Critical
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weaknesses
CWE-22, CWE-829
Reviewed
2026-05-08

Affected packages

• npm electerm: < 3.7.16 → fixed in 3.7.16

Description

Impact The `runWidget` function in `src/app/widgets/load-widget.js` constructs a file path by directly concatenating user‑supplied widget identifiers without any sanitisation: ```javascript const file = `widget-${widgetId}.js` const widget = require(path.join(__dirname, file)) ``` Because `runWidget` is exposed to the renderer process via an asynchronous IPC handler with no input validation, an attacker who achieves JavaScript execution inside the renderer (for example, through a malicious plugin or a cross‑site scripting flaw in the built‑in webview) can abuse a path traversal (`../`) to load and execute an arbitrary JavaScript file anywhere on the victim’s filesystem. This gives the attacker local code execution with the full privileges of the electerm process, leading to complete system compromise. Patches Fixed in version >= 3.7.16 Workarounds Until a patch is released: • Do not install or run untrusted plugins. • Avoid loading arbitrary web content inside electerm’s embedded webview (for example, disable any features that fetch and display remote HTML). • Run electerm in a sandboxed environment (e.g., with `bubblewrap` on Linux, AppArmor/SELinux profiles, or Windows sandboxed app execution) to limit the impact of any code execution. Resources • electerm GitHub Repository • electerm Security Policy • Vulnerability details originally reported by external researcher (PoC confirmed on v3.7.9, Win10).

Related

Alias · CVE (1)

  • CVE-2026-43940 electerm is an open-sourced terminal/ssh/sftp/telnet/serialport/RDP/VNC/Spice/ftp client. vulnerability

Weakness · CWE (2)

  • CWE-22 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory weakness
  • CWE-829 Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere weakness

References