Introduction
During independent security research, I identified a security misconfiguration in Offline Hospital Management System version 5.3.0 that could allow local code execution.
The issue stems from insecure Electron application settings that expose Node.js functionality to the renderer process. The vulnerability has been assigned CVE-2026–26462.
This article explains the root cause, impact, and security implications of this issue.
Technical Overview
Offline Hospital Management System is built using the Electron framework. Electron applications combine Chromium and Node.js, which makes configuration security critical.
In this case, the application was configured with:
nodeIntegrationenabledcontextIsolationdisabled
This combination creates a dangerous security condition.
When Node.js integration is enabled in the renderer process and context isolation is disabled, JavaScript running inside the renderer gains access to Node.js APIs. This effectively removes the security boundary between the browser context and the operating system.
As a result, code executed in the renderer process can interact with the underlying system.
Root Cause
The vulnerability is caused by improper Electron security configuration in the main window settings.
Electron's security documentation explicitly recommends:
- Disabling
nodeIntegration - Enabling
contextIsolation - Using secure preload scripts
Failure to follow these recommendations can lead to privilege escalation within the application context.
Proof of Concept (Safe Demonstration)
During testing, it was possible to demonstrate system-level interaction from the renderer context by accessing Node.js APIs.
The goal of the proof-of-concept was to confirm that:
- The renderer process had access to Node.js modules
- System-level functionality could be invoked
No destructive actions were performed during testing. The demonstration strictly verified the security boundary failure.
Exploitation Flow
From an exploitation perspective, once arbitrary JavaScript execution is possible within the renderer (for example through injected content or developer console access), the exposed Node.js APIs allow interaction with the host operating system. This effectively removes the intended security boundary and enables system-level capabilities within the application context.
Impact
The vulnerability allows:
- Local code execution within the application context
- Potential system command execution
- Security boundary bypass inside the Electron environment
While the attack vector is local, the impact is significant in environments where application integrity is critical, such as healthcare systems.
Affected Version
- Offline Hospital Management System 5.3.0
- Possibly earlier versions
Vendor: silverplugins21
Timeline
- January 10, 2026 — CVE request submitted
- January 2026 — CVE-2026–26462 assigned
- February 2026 — Public disclosure
Mitigation Recommendations
To secure the application, the following changes are recommended:
- Disable
nodeIntegration - Enable
contextIsolation - Use properly designed preload scripts
- Follow Electron security best practices
Electron applications should treat the renderer process as untrusted and limit its capabilities accordingly.
Responsible Disclosure
The vulnerability was responsibly reported and assigned a CVE identifier prior to public disclosure. This article is intended for educational and defensive purposes.
About the Researcher
Hussein Saleh Independent Security Researcher Focused on application security, vulnerability research, and secure configuration analysis.