Notepad++ global buffer read overflow in CharDistributionAnalysis::HandleOneChar
Priority LOW 25CWE-120Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. Versions 8.5.6 and prior are vulnerable to global buffer read overflow in `CharDistributionAnalysis::HandleOneChar`. The exploitability of this issue is not clear. Potentially, it may be used to leak internal memory allocation information. As of time of publication, no known patches are available in existing versions of Notepad++.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00375 31st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| notepad-plus-plus | notepad-plus-plus | up to 8.5.6 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- notepad-plus-plus Vendornotepad-plus-plus Affected up to 8.5.6 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:notepad-plus-plus:notepad\+\+:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 8.5.6 | Vulnerable | notepad-plus-plus |
- cpe:2.3:a:notepad-plus-plus:notepad\+\+:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 8.5.6 Vulnerable ·notepad-plus-plus
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-40036
References
More notepad-plus-plus Notepad++ vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-14195 Notepad++ < 8.8.9 WinGUp Updater Lacks Update Integrity Verification KEVCVSS 4.0HIGH 7.7
- TI-2026-36070 Notepad++: Arbitrary Code Execution via shortcuts.xml UserCommand Injection CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2026-36048 Notepad++: Arbitrary Code Execution via config.xml commandLineInterpreter CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2026-04836 Stack-Based Buffer Overflow in Notepad++ File Drop Handler leads to DoS CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2023-20921 Notepad++ vulnerable to heap buffer write overflow in Utf8_16_Read::convert CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2026-37981 Notepad++ TOCTOU: HMAC Checks Disk, Executes from Memory CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.5
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences