CVE-2024-46992 in Electron
Summary
by MITRE • 07/01/2025
Electron is an open source framework for writing cross-platform desktop applications using JavaScript, HTML and CSS. From versions 30.0.0-alpha.1 to before 30.0.5 and 31.0.0-alpha.1 to before 31.0.0-beta.1, Electron is vulnerable to an ASAR Integrity bypass. This only impacts apps that have the embeddedAsarIntegrityValidation and onlyLoadAppFromAsar fuses enabled. Apps without these fuses enabled are not impacted. This issue is specific to Windows, apps using these fuses on macOS are not impacted. Specifically this issue can only be exploited if the app is launched from a filesystem the attacker has write access too. i.e. the ability to edit files inside the .app bundle on macOS which these fuses are supposed to protect against. This issue has been patched in versions 30.0.5 and 31.0.0-beta.1. There are no workarounds for this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-46992 represents a critical security flaw in the Electron framework that affects specific versions of the cross-platform desktop application development platform. This issue manifests as an ASAR integrity bypass that specifically targets applications utilizing two particular fuses: embeddedAsarIntegrityValidation and onlyLoadAppFromAsar. The vulnerability exists within Electron versions from 30.0.0-alpha.1 through 30.0.4 and from 31.0.0-alpha.1 through 31.0.0-beta.0, creating a window of exposure for developers who have enabled these security features in their applications. The ASAR (Atom Shell Archive Format) integrity validation mechanism is designed to prevent tampering with application resources by maintaining cryptographic signatures that verify file integrity, making this bypass particularly concerning for applications that rely on these protections.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires specific conditions that limit its attack surface but still present significant risks. The flaw is platform-specific, impacting only Windows operating systems where applications are launched from filesystems that the attacker controls. This means that the vulnerability cannot be exploited through traditional means such as modifying files within an application bundle on macOS, as the fuses are designed to protect against such modifications on that platform. The attack requires the adversary to have write access to the filesystem where the application is executed, effectively limiting exploitation to scenarios where the attacker can modify files in the application's execution environment. This constraint actually provides some protection, but when combined with the specific fuse configurations, it creates a dangerous combination that allows attackers to bypass the intended security controls.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability directly relates to CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and aligns with ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms. The vulnerability undermines the fundamental security assumptions of Electron applications that rely on ASAR integrity validation, potentially allowing attackers to modify application resources, inject malicious code, or manipulate application behavior. When applications are configured with embeddedAsarIntegrityValidation and onlyLoadAppFromAsar fuses enabled, they expect to be protected against modifications to their packaged resources, but this vulnerability demonstrates that such protection can be circumvented on Windows platforms. The implications extend beyond simple code injection, as attackers could potentially modify application logic, data processing, or communication protocols that rely on the integrity of ASAR archives.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for Electron developers who have implemented these security fuses as part of their application hardening strategy. Applications that depend on the integrity of their packaged resources, particularly those handling sensitive data or implementing security-critical functions, may be compromised if they are running on Windows systems and have not been updated to patched versions. The vulnerability's resolution requires immediate attention from developers, as there are no workarounds available to address the issue without upgrading to the patched Electron versions. Organizations should prioritize updating their Electron applications to versions 30.0.5 or 31.0.0-beta.1, depending on their current version, to ensure that their applications are no longer vulnerable to this specific ASAR integrity bypass attack vector. The Windows-specific nature of this vulnerability means that developers using macOS should not be immediately concerned, but all developers should remain vigilant about similar issues that might affect their cross-platform applications.