CVE-2025-67230: ToDesktop Builder Privilege Escalation

CVE-2025-67230 Overview

CVE-2025-67230 is a high-severity permissions flaw in ToDesktop Builder version 0.33.0. The vulnerability resides in the handler for the application's Custom URL Scheme. Attackers with renderer-context access can invoke external protocol handlers without sufficient validation. This weakness maps to [CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions].

ToDesktop is a build platform used to package web applications into desktop binaries based on Electron. A successful attack chains through compromised or malicious renderer content to trigger arbitrary protocol handlers on the host operating system. The flaw affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the host once an attacker reaches renderer context.

Critical Impact
Attackers with renderer-context access can invoke arbitrary external protocol handlers on the host, enabling cross-application command execution and lateral pivot from web content into local OS handlers.

Affected Products

ToDesktop Builder 0.33.0
Applications packaged with vulnerable ToDesktop Builder releases
Electron-based desktop apps built using the affected ToDesktop pipeline

Discovery Timeline

2026-01-23 - CVE-2025-67230 published to NVD
2026-01-29 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-67230

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from improper permission enforcement inside the Custom URL Scheme handler shipped with ToDesktop Builder 0.33.0. The handler accepts protocol invocations originating from renderer context without validating the origin, target scheme, or argument shape. ToDesktop applications use the custom scheme to deep-link into application features and to coordinate IPC between the renderer and the main process.

Because the handler delegates to the operating system's external protocol resolution, an attacker who controls renderer content can request execution of arbitrary protocol:// URIs. The operating system then routes those URIs to whichever native application is registered for the scheme. Common abuse paths include file://, ms-msdt://, search-ms://, and other registered handlers known to accept argument strings.

Exploitation requires renderer-context access. This precondition is typically reached through cross-site scripting in loaded content, a malicious iframe, or a supply-chain compromise of a dependency rendered inside the application. User interaction is required, which matches the CVSS user-interaction component.

Root Cause

The root cause is the absence of an allowlist and origin check in the Custom URL Scheme handler. Permissions on the handler are broader than intended, allowing renderer-originated invocations to flow through to the host. The component does not enforce that requested protocols match the application's declared handlers or that the requesting frame holds the required privileges.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-reachable content rendered inside a vulnerable ToDesktop-built application. An attacker stages a payload that, when rendered, calls into the Custom URL Scheme handler with an attacker-controlled protocol URI. The handler forwards the URI to the OS shell, which launches the corresponding native application with attacker-controlled arguments. Refer to the ToDesktop Security Advisory TDSA-2025-002 for vendor technical detail.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-67230

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by ToDesktop-built application binaries, especially shell handlers such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, open, or xdg-open.
Process command lines containing unusual custom scheme URIs originating from a desktop app parent process.
Outbound network connections initiated by handler binaries immediately after renderer activity.

Detection Strategies

Hunt for ToDesktop application processes invoking external protocol handlers that are not part of the application's documented behavior.
Correlate renderer crash logs, navigation events, and subsequent process launches occurring within a short time window.
Alert on file://, ms-msdt://, search-ms://, and similar high-risk URI handlers invoked by Electron-class parents.

Monitoring Recommendations

Inventory installed desktop applications built with ToDesktop and confirm their builder version against the vendor changelog.
Forward endpoint process-creation telemetry to a central analytics store and retain command-line arguments.
Track installations and auto-update events for ToDesktop-packaged applications across the fleet.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-67230

Immediate Actions Required

Identify all desktop applications built with ToDesktop Builder and pin their builder version to the patched release referenced in TDSA-2025-002.
Rebuild and redistribute affected applications using a fixed ToDesktop Builder release.
Restrict renderer content to trusted origins and enforce a strict Content Security Policy on loaded pages.

Patch Information

ToDesktop has published guidance and a fixed release through the ToDesktop Security Advisory TDSA-2025-002. Application maintainers must upgrade the builder dependency and recompile shipping binaries. End-user installations receive the fix only after the maintainer publishes a rebuilt application through ToDesktop's update channel.

Workarounds

Remove or disable custom URL scheme registration in the affected application until a rebuilt version is available.
Apply an OS-level allowlist that blocks ToDesktop application processes from launching shell or scripting handlers.
Enforce CSP directives that prevent renderer content from initiating navigation to non-application protocols.

bash

# Configuration example: enumerate ToDesktop-built apps and their versions on macOS
find /Applications -name 'Info.plist' -path '*Contents/Info.plist' \
  -exec /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c 'Print :CFBundleIdentifier' {} \; \
  -exec /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c 'Print :CFBundleShortVersionString' {} \;