CVE-2025-49144

HIGH

Notepad++ <8.8.1 - Privilege Escalation

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 11 public exploits for CVE-2025-49144. PoCs published by TheTorjanCaptain, b0ySie7e, adminlove520.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This repository contains a functional proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2025-49144, a local privilege escalation vulnerability in Notepad++ installers prior to v8.8.2. The exploit leverages an uncontrolled search path to execute a malicious regsvr32.exe with SYSTEM privileges during installation.

Description

Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. In versions 8.8.1 and prior, a privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the Notepad++ v8.8.1 installer that allows unprivileged users to gain SYSTEM-level privileges through insecure executable search paths. An attacker could use social engineering or clickjacking to trick users into downloading both the legitimate installer and a malicious executable to the same directory (typically Downloads folder - which is known as Vulnerable directory). Upon running the installer, the attack executes automatically with SYSTEM privileges. This issue has been fixed and will be released in version 8.8.2.

Exploits (11)

nomisec WORKING POC 85 stars
by TheTorjanCaptain · poc
https://github.com/TheTorjanCaptain/CVE-2025-49144_PoC

This repository contains a functional proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2025-49144, a local privilege escalation vulnerability in Notepad++ installers prior to v8.8.2. The exploit leverages an uncontrolled search path to execute a malicious regsvr32.exe with SYSTEM privileges during installation.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Notepad++ installer versions prior to 8.8.2
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Victim must run the Notepad++ installer from a directory where the attacker can place a malicious regsvr32.exe · Installer must be run with elevated privileges
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 8 stars
by b0ySie7e · poc
https://github.com/b0ySie7e/Notepad-8.8.1_CVE-2025-49144

This repository contains a functional exploit for CVE-2025-49144, targeting Notepad++ 8.8.1 installer. The exploit generates a malicious `regsvr32.exe` that injects shellcode into a remote `notepad.exe` process, leveraging a vulnerability in the installer's execution context.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Notepad++ 8.8.1
No auth needed
Prerequisites: msfvenom · mingw-w64 · vulnerable Notepad++ installer
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
github WORKING POC 2 stars
by adminlove520 · pythonpoc
https://github.com/adminlove520/CVE-Poc_All_in_One/tree/main/2025/CVE-2025-49144

The repository contains functional exploit code for multiple CVEs, including authentication bypass vulnerabilities in TOTOLINK devices and a scanner for Fortinet SSL VPN (CVE-2024-21762). The PoCs demonstrate the vulnerabilities with clear technical details and functional code.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Auth Bypass
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: TOTOLINK LR350, TOTOLINK T6, Fortinet SSL VPN
No auth needed
Prerequisites: network access to the target device
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 27, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec SUSPICIOUS 1 stars
by ammarm0010 · poc
https://github.com/ammarm0010/CVE-2025-49144_PoC

The repository claims to provide a PoC for CVE-2025-49144 but lacks technical details about the vulnerability. Instead, it directs users to download a ZIP file from an external source, which is a common tactic for distributing malware or fake exploits.

Classification
Suspicious 90%
Attack Type
Other
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: Unknown (no specific software mentioned)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Download and execute an external ZIP file
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 1 stars
by Vr00mm · poc
https://github.com/Vr00mm/CVE-2025-49144

This repository contains a functional exploit for CVE-2025-49144, demonstrating a binary planting vulnerability in Notepad++ installers. The exploit leverages a malicious `regsvr32.exe` to achieve SYSTEM-level privilege escalation via token impersonation and reverse shell execution.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Notepad++ installer (versions before v8.8.2)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: User execution of Notepad++ installer from a directory containing the malicious `regsvr32.exe`
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by havertz2110 · poc
https://github.com/havertz2110/CVE-2025-49144-PoC

This repository contains a functional exploit for CVE-2025-49144, which leverages token duplication to escalate privileges to SYSTEM via winlogon.exe. The PoC spawns a reverse shell with SYSTEM privileges by duplicating the winlogon token and creating a new process with elevated permissions.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Windows (specific version not specified)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local access to a vulnerable Windows system · SeDebugPrivilege enabled or ability to enable it
devstral-2 · analyzed Mar 20, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by 0xCZR1 · poc
https://github.com/0xCZR1/cve-2025-49144

The PoC exploits a DLL hijacking vulnerability in an installer by placing a malicious 'regsvr32.exe' in the working directory, which is executed due to unquoted PATH handling. The payload is a C#-based file write operation converted to shellcode and executed via a C loader.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Unspecified installer (likely Windows-based)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Ability to place files in the installer's working directory · Target system running the vulnerable installer
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
github WORKING POC
by havertz2110 · cpoc
https://github.com/havertz2110/CVE-2025-49144

This repository contains a functional exploit for CVE-2025-49144, a local privilege escalation vulnerability in Notepad++ 8.8.1 due to an uncontrolled executable search path. The exploit leverages a crafted regsvr32.exe to escalate privileges during the installation process.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Notepad++ 8.8.1
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to the target system to place the crafted regsvr32.exe in the same directory as the Notepad++ installer · Notepad++ 8.8.1 installer
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 19, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec STUB
by onniio · poc
https://github.com/onniio/CVE-2025-49144

The repository contains only a README.md file with minimal content (just the CVE identifier) and no exploit code, technical details, or additional context.

Classification
Stub 100%
Attack Type
Other
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: unknown
No auth needed
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by timsonner · poc
https://github.com/timsonner/CVE-2025-49144-Research

The repository contains functional exploit code for CVE-2025-49144, demonstrating a local privilege escalation (LPE) via execution of a malicious installer. The code removes the 'Mark of the Web' to bypass security warnings and executes the installer with elevated privileges.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Windows 8 to Windows 11 (x64)
Auth required
Prerequisites: Presence of a malicious installer file named 'installer_Win8_Win11_x64_*.exe' in the same directory · Local execution context on the target system
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WRITEUP
by assad12341 · poc
https://github.com/assad12341/notepad-v8.8.1-LPE-CVE-

This repository provides a detailed technical analysis of CVE-2025-49144, a local privilege escalation vulnerability in Notepad++ v8.8.1 and prior versions. The vulnerability arises from uncontrolled executable search path behavior during installation, allowing an attacker to gain SYSTEM privileges by placing a malicious regsvr32.exe in the same directory as the installer.

Classification
Writeup 90%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Notepad++ v8.8.1 and prior
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to the victim's system to place a malicious regsvr32.exe in the same directory as the Notepad++ installer · Victim must run the installer with elevated privileges
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →

Scores

CVSS v3 7.3
EPSS 0.0010
EPSS Percentile 27.4%
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation none
Automatable no
Technical Impact total

Details

CWE
CWE-272 CWE-276 CWE-427
Status published
Products (1)
notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus < 8.8.2
Published Jun 23, 2025
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026