CVE-2026-42890 actual Allows Electron to Run As Node
Attackers can bypass macOS Gatekeeper and execute arbitrary code by running the signed Actual.app binary as a Node.js REPL via environment variables.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-42890?
CVE-2026-42890 is a medium-severity vulnerability in actualbudget actual, published on 12 Jun 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
Actual is an open-source personal finance application. In the macOS desktop application version 25.x (built on Electron 39.2.7), the ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE fuse is not disabled, allowing an attacker who can place a file on disk or control command-line arguments to invoke the signed Actual.app binary with the ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE=1 environment variable set. This converts the application into a Node.js REPL capable of executing arbitrary code that inherits the application's entitlements and code signature, bypassing macOS Gatekeeper review. Version 26.5.0 patches the issue.
Weakness: CWE-94
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-42890?
2 open source packages ship an affected version, including actual.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
actual npm | All versions | 26.5.0 |
actual npm | All versions | 26.5.0 |
How do I fix CVE-2026-42890?
Upgrade actual to 26.5.0 or later.
Is CVE-2026-42890 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-42890 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-7rvm-xjpp-63r9.