Electron: SameSite cookie restrictions are not applied to windows opened from links

### Impact Pages opened into a new window from a link were loaded as if the app itself had navigated there rather than the page that contained the link, so the request was treated as same-site: `SameSite=Strict` cookies were sent and `Sec-Fetch-Site` did not identify the initiating page. Content shown in the app could use this to make a credentialed top-level request to another site that relies on SameSite cookies as a CSRF defence. Apps are only affected if they load untrusted content and allow it to open new windows. Apps that deny new windows from untrusted content with `setWindowOpenHandler` are not affected. ### Workarounds Return `{ action: 'deny' }` from `setWindowOpenHandler` for windows opened by untrusted content. ### Fixed Versions * `45.0.0-alpha.6` * `44.3.0` * `43.7.0` * `42.11.3` ### For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, email us at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Source published

22 Oct 2026 16:47:54 UTC

Source modified

22 Oct 2026 17:00:04 UTC

Observed here

24 Oct 2026 13:17:17 UTC

Source terms

GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0

Original source record · Cite this exact observation · Complete original publisher JSON

This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: osv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.

CVSS_V3 · CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N

Publisher rating · MODERATE