Notepad++: Stack Buffer Overflow in Plugin Lexer Loading via Unchecked GetLexerCount() Return Value
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- 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-121 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. Prior to 8.9.8, Notepad++ contains a stack buffer overflow in PluginsManager::loadPluginFromPath in PowerEditor/src/MISC/PluginsManager/PluginsManager.cpp because the plugin-supplied GetLexerCount() result controls a loop that writes to containers[30] without enforcing NB_MAX_EXTERNAL_LANG. A malicious or compromised plugin that reports more than 30 lexers can write beyond the stack array and corrupt control data, which can permit arbitrary code execution in the Notepad++ process context. This issue is fixed in version 8.9.8.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- 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
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| notepad-plus-plus | notepad-plus-plus | before 8.9.8 | 8.9.8 | Patch available | CNA |
- notepad-plus-plus Vendornotepad-plus-plus Affected before 8.9.8 Fixed in 8.9.8 Patch available CNA
CPE names Threatist (inferred) · 1
Inferred from how NVD named this product before; not given by a source.
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:notepad-plus-plus:notepad\+\+:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | — | — | notepad-plus-plus |
- cpe:2.3:a:notepad-plus-plus:notepad\+\+:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions — — ·notepad-plus-plus
Remediation
- Fix · CNA notepad-plus-plus (notepad-plus-plus) Fixed in 8.9.8
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-85279
References
Other 5
- https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-h2wq-6x75-h8q2
- https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/70b88f95311d88523cde6be1b1ec938aa48c24bc
- https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/f1e1c71b090d69ca0f0175ab73895da41db67a16
- https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/releases/tag/v8.9.8
- https://notepad-plus-plus.org/news/v898-released
More notepad-plus-plus vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-14195 Notepad++ < 8.8.9 WinGUp Updater Lacks Update Integrity Verification KEVCVSS 4.0HIGH 7.7
- TI-2026-58869 Notepad++: Stack Buffer Overflow in `NppParameters::writeSession` via overlong session path CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2026-54091 Notepad++ “Run by system” executes *.txt.cmd when user selected *.txt (target confusion → command execution) CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- 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
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences