---
id: "CVE-2026-117602"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-117602"]
title: "Electrum: external plugin loader runs unsigned plugin code without authorization check"
severity: "high"
cvss: 8.6
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["bitcoin-wallet", "desktop", "electrum", "local-users", "package"]
not_affected_if: ["no-local-write-access-to-data-directory", "versions-4.7.2-or-later"]
published_at: "2026-10-27T14:16:40+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-27T14:32:21+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-27T14:32:44+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-117602", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-27T14:32:21+00:00"}]
---

# Electrum: external plugin loader runs unsigned plugin code without authorization check

Electrum 4.6.0 before 4.7.2 loads a plugin's __init__.py whenever the config marks it enabled, without verifying the plugin-password signature. A local process that can write to the Electrum data directory can drop a plugin and enable it, running arbitrary code inside the Electrum wallet process.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- Run `electrum version` and confirm the installed version is below `4.7.2`.
- Check the Electrum data directory for unexpected folders under `plugins/` and for enabled plugin entries in the config file that no one on the team set.

## Fix

- Upgrade Electrum to `4.7.2` or later.
- Until upgraded, restrict write access to the Electrum data directory to the wallet user only.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-27T14:32:21+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-117602

## From the sources

Electrum 4.6.0 before 4.7.2 contains an authorization bypass in the external plugin loader, which executes a plugin's __init__.py module when the plugin is marked enabled in the config file, without verifying its plugin-password signature. A rogue local process with write access to the Electrum data directory can place plugin code in the plugins/ folder and mark it enabled, causing arbitrary code execution inside the Electrum process.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_