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TI-2026-20956 Aliases CVE-2026-25926

Notepad++ has an Untrusted Search Path

Priority LOW 34CWE-426Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Code execution
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-426.

Summary

Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. An Unsafe Search Path vulnerability (CWE-426) exists in versions prior to 8.9.2 when launching Windows Explorer without an absolute executable path. This may allow execution of a malicious explorer.exe if an attacker can control the process working directory. Under certain conditions, this could lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the running application. Version 8.9.2 patches the issue.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00273 19th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed notepad-plus-plus (notepad-plus-plus): 8.9.2

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
notepad-plus-plusnotepad-plus-plusbefore 8.9.28.9.2Patch availableCNA
  • notepad-plus-plus Vendornotepad-plus-plus Affected before 8.9.2 Fixed in 8.9.2 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:notepad-plus-plus:notepad\+\+:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 8.9.2Vulnerablenotepad-plus-plus
  • cpe:2.3:a:notepad-plus-plus:notepad\+\+:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 8.9.2 Vulnerable ·notepad-plus-plus

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA notepad-plus-plus (notepad-plus-plus) Fixed in 8.9.2

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-25926

References

Exploit 1

Other 2

  • 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
See all 19 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences