# CVE-2024-22169: Misconfiguration in node.js causing a code execution in WD Discovery

> A misconfiguration in WD Discovery allows malicious applications to execute code via the ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE environment variable.

- **Severity:** High 7.1 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 2 Aug 2024
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-cqcg-4g39-cjvj

## What is CVE-2024-22169?

CVE-2024-22169 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Western Digital WD Discovery, published on 2 Aug 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

WD Discovery
versions prior to 5.0.589 contain a misconfiguration in the Node.js environment
settings that could allow code execution by utilizing the 'ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE' environment variable.
Any malicious application operating with standard user permissions can exploit
this vulnerability, enabling code execution within WD Discovery application's
context. WD Discovery version 5.0.589 addresses this issue by disabling certain
features and fuses in Electron. The attack vector for this issue requires the victim to have the WD Discovery app installed on their device.

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-22169?


## How do I fix CVE-2024-22169?

No fix has been published for CVE-2024-22169 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2024-22169 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-22169 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-22169 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-22169 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Western Digital WD Discovery, published on 2 Aug 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-22169 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Western Digital WD Discovery. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-22169/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-22169/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-22169
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-22169
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-22169

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-22169/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.