Electron ipc security audit

electron-ipc-security-audit

Analyze Electron IPC implementations for security vulnerabilities. This skill performs comprehensive security audits of inter-process communication patterns, checking for contextIsolation issues, nodeIntegration risks, preload script security, and IPC channel validation.

Capabilities

• Audit IPC channel implementations for security vulnerabilities
• Check contextIsolation and nodeIntegration configuration
• Analyze preload scripts for unsafe patterns
• Validate IPC message handling and sanitization
• Detect prototype pollution risks
• Check for remote code execution vulnerabilities
• Review Content Security Policy headers
• Identify exposed APIs through contextBridge

Input Schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "projectPath": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Path to the Electron project root"
    },
    "auditScope": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "enum": ["ipc-channels", "preload-scripts", "main-process", "renderer-security", "csp", "all"]
      },
      "default": ["all"]
    },
    "severity": {
      "enum": ["all", "critical", "high", "medium"],
      "default": "all",
      "description": "Minimum severity level to report"
    },
    "includeRecommendations": {
      "type": "boolean",
      "default": true
    }
  },
  "required": ["projectPath"]
}

Output Schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "success": { "type": "boolean" },
    "summary": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "totalIssues": { "type": "number" },
        "critical": { "type": "number" },
        "high": { "type": "number" },
        "medium": { "type": "number" },
        "low": { "type": "number" }
      }
    },
    "findings": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "properties": {
          "id": { "type": "string" },
          "severity": { "enum": ["critical", "high", "medium", "low"] },
          "category": { "type": "string" },
          "title": { "type": "string" },
          "description": { "type": "string" },
          "file": { "type": "string" },
          "line": { "type": "number" },
          "recommendation": { "type": "string" },
          "codeExample": { "type": "string" }
        }
      }
    },
    "securityScore": {
      "type": "number",
      "description": "Security score 0-100"
    }
  },
  "required": ["success", "findings"]
}

Security Checks

Critical Checks

1. nodeIntegration enabled: Check for nodeIntegration: true in BrowserWindow
2. contextIsolation disabled: Check for contextIsolation: false
3. sandbox disabled: Check for sandbox: false
4. Direct ipcRenderer exposure: Check for exposing ipcRenderer without contextBridge
5. Remote module usage: Check for deprecated remote module
6. eval/Function execution: Check for dynamic code execution in IPC handlers

High Severity Checks

1. Unrestricted IPC channels: Check for ipcMain.on('*') patterns
2. Missing input validation: Check for unsanitized IPC arguments
3. webSecurity disabled: Check for webSecurity: false
4. Unsafe protocol registration: Check for custom protocol handlers
5. Missing CSP headers: Check for Content Security Policy

Medium Severity Checks

1. Overly permissive file access: Check for broad file system access
2. Insecure web preferences: Check deprecated options
3. Missing channel whitelisting: Check preload script exposure
4. Navigation to untrusted URLs: Check navigation handlers

Usage Instructions

1. Scan project structure: Identify main process, preload, and renderer files
2. Check BrowserWindow configurations: Audit webPreferences settings
3. Analyze IPC implementations: Review ipcMain/ipcRenderer usage
4. Review preload scripts: Check contextBridge API exposure
5. Validate CSP headers: Ensure proper Content Security Policy
6. Generate report: Compile findings with severity and recommendations

Vulnerability Patterns

Critical: Direct ipcRenderer Exposure

// BAD: Exposing ipcRenderer directly
contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld('electron', {
  ipcRenderer: ipcRenderer // CRITICAL VULNERABILITY
});

// GOOD: Expose only specific channels
contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld('electron', {
  send: (channel, data) => {
    const validChannels = ['file:read', 'file:write'];
    if (validChannels.includes(channel)) {
      ipcRenderer.send(channel, data);
    }
  }
});

Critical: Missing Context Isolation

// BAD: Context isolation disabled
new BrowserWindow({
  webPreferences: {
    contextIsolation: false, // CRITICAL
    preload: path.join(__dirname, 'preload.js')
  }
});

// GOOD: Context isolation enabled
new BrowserWindow({
  webPreferences: {
    contextIsolation: true,
    sandbox: true,
    preload: path.join(__dirname, 'preload.js')
  }
});

High: Unrestricted IPC Handler

// BAD: Executing arbitrary commands
ipcMain.handle('execute', async (event, cmd) => {
  return exec(cmd); // HIGH RISK
});

// GOOD: Whitelisted commands only
const ALLOWED_COMMANDS = ['list-files', 'get-info'];
ipcMain.handle('execute', async (event, cmd, args) => {
  if (!ALLOWED_COMMANDS.includes(cmd)) {
    throw new Error('Command not allowed');
  }
  return executeWhitelistedCommand(cmd, args);
});

Best Practices

1. Always enable contextIsolation: Prevents prototype pollution
2. Use sandbox mode: Restricts renderer process capabilities
3. Whitelist IPC channels: Only expose necessary channels
4. Validate all IPC inputs: Never trust renderer input
5. Avoid dynamic code execution: No eval/Function in IPC handlers
6. Implement CSP headers: Restrict script sources
7. Use invoke/handle pattern: Prefer over send/on for request-response

Related Skills

• electron-main-preload-generator - Generate secure boilerplate
• electron-builder-config - Build configuration
• desktop-security-auditor agent - Comprehensive security review

Related Agents

• electron-architect - Architecture guidance
• desktop-security-auditor - Security expertise

References

• Electron Security Tutorial
• Context Isolation
• Process Sandboxing