Description
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.
References (3)
Core 3
Core References
Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm
https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-rjvm-fcxw-2jxq
Release Notes x_refsource_misc
https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/releases/tag/v8.9.2
Various Sources x_refsource_misc
https://notepad-plus-plus.org/news/v892-released
Scores
CVSS v3
7.3
EPSS
0.0025
EPSS Percentile
15.8%
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-426
Status
published
Products (1)
notepad-plus-plus/notepad\+\+
< 8.9.2
Published
Feb 19, 2026
Tracked Since
Feb 19, 2026