WhatsApp flaw could lead Windows users to install malware

Present on many platforms, WhatsApp is currently one of the most used solutions for communication over the Internet. With constant updates, it has now received an important and complicated security alert. A flaw in WhatsApp has been revealed that can lead Windows users to install malware.

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Whoever is using the WhatsApp to Windows, you’ll need to be careful. Meta has warned that a security vulnerability could trick unsuspecting users into downloading and installing malware. The spoofing vulnerability, tracked under the ID CVE-2025-30401, allows attackers to disguise malicious and harmful code as harmless attachments.

Typically, anyone who receives an attachment on WhatsApp identifies it by its MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) type. A file can be identified as an image, document, or video based on its actual content. However, when you open the attachment manually, WhatsApp uses the file extension (.jpg or .exe) to decide how to handle it.

The problem arises if the attachment is created with a deliberate mismatch by an attacker. For example, the MIME type may suggest that it is an image, and WhatsApp displays it as an image, but the file extension may actually indicate that it is a program, with the contents of an .exe.

Triggers Windows users into installing malware

If the recipient manually opens the attachment, expecting to see a harmless image, the system could execute the hidden program. This could allow the attacker's code to run on the victim's device without the victim's knowledge, causing damage such as data theft, malware installation or system hijacking.

Than the Goal showed In its security alert, this abnormal situation affects all versions of WhatsApp for Windows up to version 2.2450.6. The flaw has since been corrected and the solution to this problem is now available to all users of this software.

Therefore, it is advisable for Windows users to protect themselves if they use WhatsApp. To do so, they should download and install WhatsApp for Windows version 2.2450.6 or later. You can get it from official website from WhatsApp or on Microsoft Store.

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