CVE-2023-29198 : Security Advisory and Response

Electron is a framework that allows developers to create cross-platform desktop applications using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. This vulnerability in Electron allows for context isolation bypass via nested unserializable return value.

Understanding CVE-2023-29198

This CVE affects Electron framework versions with specific vulnerabilities related to contextIsolation and contextBridge.

What is CVE-2023-29198?

Electron apps using

contextIsolation

and

contextBridge

are impacted by a context isolation bypass vulnerability. It allows malicious code in the main world context to access the isolated Electron context and perform privileged actions.

The Impact of CVE-2023-29198

The vulnerability can be exploited when an API exposed to the main world via

contextBridge

returns an object or array containing unserializable JavaScript objects. This could lead to a context isolation bypass and potentially allow unauthorized privileged actions.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-29198

The vulnerability allows unauthorized access to isolated Electron contexts through unserializable return values.

Vulnerability Description

This is a context isolation bypass issue where code from the main world context can reach into the isolated Electron context and perform privileged actions.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected systems include Electron versions < 22.3.6, >= 23.0.0 < 23.2.3, >= 24.0.0 < 24.0.1, >= 25.0.0-alpha.1 < 25.0.0-alpha.2.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploitation occurs when an API exposed via

contextBridge

returns unserializable objects, allowing unauthorized privileged actions.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-29198, immediate steps and long-term security practices are essential.

Immediate Steps to Take

Developers should ensure that APIs exposed to the main world are properly validated and do not return unserializable objects.

Long-Term Security Practices

Continuously update Electron framework to patched versions and follow secure coding practices to prevent context isolation bypasses.

Patching and Updates

The issue has been fixed in versions 25.0.0-alpha.2, 24.0.1, 23.2.3, and 22.3.6.