# CVE-2024-39613: Mattermost Desktop App uncontrolled search path vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-39613-mattermost-desktop-app-uncontrolled-search-path-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2024-09-16. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2024-39613 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2024-09-16

Mattermost Desktop App is a communication platform client used by organizations to access team messaging and collaboration features on Windows machines. Versions 5.8.0 and earlier fail to use absolute paths when searching for the Windows command shell (cmd.exe), allowing an attacker who can place a malicious cmd.exe file in a user's Downloads folder to execute arbitrary code with the user's privileges when the app launches.

Technologies: [Mattermost Desktop App](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/desktop-app). Vendors: [Mattermost](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/mattermost).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2024-39613 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2024-39613 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2024-39613?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 16 September 2024.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Mattermost Desktop App <=5.8.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2024-39613?** A patch was published on 2024-09-16: Version 5.9.0 released Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2024-39613 attacked?** It is attacked with local access.

**Am I affected by CVE-2024-39613?** Check whether you run Mattermost Desktop App at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

This vulnerability is a CWE-427 uncontrolled search path (DLL/binary hijacking) issue. The Mattermost Desktop App versions up to 5.8.0 search for cmd.exe without specifying an absolute path, causing Windows to search in predictable locations including the user's current working directory and Downloads folder. A local attacker with write access to a target user's Downloads folder can place a malicious cmd.exe binary that will be executed with the user's privileges when the application launches. The attack requires local file system access and user interaction (app launch), but no authentication. The vulnerability is fixed in version 5.9.0.

## Affected products

- Mattermost Desktop App <=5.8.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2024-39613
- GHSA-wj4j-qc2m-fgh7

## Timeline

- 2024-09-16: disclosed
- 2024-09-16: patched: Version 5.9.0 released

## References

- [https://docs.mattermost.com/about/desktop-app-changelog.html](https://docs.mattermost.com/about/desktop-app-changelog.html)

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