CVE-2026-57501 Security feature bypass in desktop
A malicious web page can bypass security restrictions to load local files with System privileges via context-menu actions in the Zen browser.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-57501?
CVE-2026-57501 is a vulnerability in zen-browser desktop, published on 9 Jul 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
Zen is a firefox-based browser. Prior to 1.21.5b, Zen's glance and split-view context-menu actions, Open link in glance and Split link in new tab, load a page-controlled link URL with the System principal instead of the originating page's principal, allowing a malicious web page to place a link to a file URL that can load with System privileges when opened through either context-menu item and bypass the content-to-file security check that blocks an ordinary click. This issue is fixed in version 1.21.5b.
Weakness: CWE-266
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-57501?
How do I fix CVE-2026-57501?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-57501 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Is CVE-2026-57501 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-57501 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-vpvg-hp3v-rm5q.