electron-updater LD_LIBRARY_PATH Path Traversal Vulnerability

Executive Summary

The vulnerability exists in electron-updater versions prior to 26.15.0 when using AppImage targets built by app-builder-lib. It allows an empty path component to be set in the LD_LIBRARY_PATH environment variable at runtime. This causes the current working directory to be included in the dynamic linker search path.

Because of this, an attacker could place a malicious shared library in the directory from which the AppImage is launched, leading to the execution of arbitrary code.

This issue was fixed in version 26.15.0.

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Detection Guidance

This vulnerability involves the LD_LIBRARY_PATH environment variable containing an empty path component, which causes the current working directory to be included in the dynamic linker search path when launching AppImage targets built by app-builder-lib prior to version 26.15.0.

To detect if your system or network is affected, you can check the environment variables used when launching AppImage files, especially LD_LIBRARY_PATH, for empty path components or inclusion of the current directory ('.').

Suggested commands to help detect this issue include:

• Inspect the LD_LIBRARY_PATH environment variable in the context of running AppImage processes: `echo $LD_LIBRARY_PATH`
• Check running AppImage processes and their environment variables using: `ps aux | grep AppImage` and then `cat /proc/<pid>/environ | tr '\0' '\n' | grep LD_LIBRARY_PATH` (replace `<pid>` with the process ID)
• Look for empty path components or '.' in LD_LIBRARY_PATH, PATH, XDG_DATA_DIRS, or GSETTINGS_SCHEMA_DIR environment variables.

Additionally, avoid running AppImage files from world-writable directories, as this can be exploited by placing malicious shared libraries in those directories.

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Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can allow an attacker with limited privileges to execute arbitrary code on your system by placing a malicious shared library in the directory where the AppImage is launched.

The impact includes potential full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system or application, as indicated by the CVSS score which rates confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts as high.

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Compliance Impact

The vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code by exploiting the dynamic linker search path, which can lead to unauthorized access or modification of data.

Such unauthorized code execution and potential data compromise could impact compliance with standards and regulations like GDPR and HIPAA, which require protection of data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Because the vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability (as indicated by the CVSS score), organizations using affected versions may face increased risk of non-compliance if the vulnerability is exploited.

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Mitigation Strategies

To mitigate this vulnerability, update electron-updater to version 26.15.0 or later, where the issue has been fixed.

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