Electron 41.0.0 Use-After-Free via Offscreen Render + Child Window
CVE-2026-34774 Published on April 3, 2026
Electron: Use-after-free in offscreen child window paint callback
Electron is a framework for writing cross-platform desktop applications using JavaScript, HTML and CSS. Prior to versions 39.8.1, 40.7.0, and 41.0.0, apps that use offscreen rendering and allow child windows via window.open() may be vulnerable to a use-after-free. If the parent offscreen WebContents is destroyed while a child window remains open, subsequent paint frames on the child dereference freed memory, which may lead to a crash or memory corruption. Apps are only affected if they use offscreen rendering (webPreferences.offscreen: true) and their setWindowOpenHandler permits child windows. Apps that do not use offscreen rendering, or that deny child windows, are not affected. This issue has been patched in versions 39.8.1, 40.7.0, and 41.0.0.
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2026-34774 is exploitable with network access, and does not require authorization privileges or user interaction. This vulnerability is consided to have a high level of attack complexity. The potential impact of an exploit of this vulnerability is considered to be very high.
Weakness Types
What is a Dangling pointer Vulnerability?
Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code.
CVE-2026-34774 has been classified to as a Dangling pointer vulnerability or weakness.
What is a Dangling pointer Vulnerability?
The program dereferences a pointer that contains a location for memory that was previously valid, but is no longer valid. When a program releases memory, but it maintains a pointer to that memory, then the memory might be re-allocated at a later time. If the original pointer is accessed to read or write data, then this could cause the program to read or modify data that is in use by a different function or process. Depending on how the newly-allocated memory is used, this could lead to a denial of service, information exposure, or code execution.
CVE-2026-34774 has been classified to as a Dangling pointer vulnerability or weakness.
Products Associated with CVE-2026-34774
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Affected Versions
electron:- Version < 39.8.1 is affected.
- Version >= 40.0.0-alpha.1, < 40.7.0 is affected.
- Version >= 41.0.0-alpha.1, < 41.0.0 is affected.
Exploit Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) scores estimate the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. The percentile shows you how this score compares to all other vulnerabilities.