CVE-2026-48800
HIGHNotepad++: Arbitrary Code Execution via shortcuts.xml UserCommand Injection
Title source: cnaExploitation Summary
EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2026-48800. PoCs published by kavin-jindal.
AI-analyzed exploit summary This PoC demonstrates CVE-2026-48800 by injecting a malicious <Command> tag into Notepad++'s shortcuts.xml, allowing arbitrary code execution when the user clicks the injected menu item. The script automates the injection of a calc.exe payload into the XML file.
Description
Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. Prior to 8.9.6.1, the <Command> tag text content inside <UserDefinedCommands> in shortcuts.xml is read by NppXml::value(aNode) (Parameters.cpp:3658) in the feedUserCmds() function and stored in UserCommand._cmd without any validation. When the user clicks the corresponding entry in the Run menu, NppCommands.cpp:4264 creates a Command object with string2wstring(ucmd.getCmd()) and calls run(), which invokes ShellExecute (RunDlg.cpp:221) with the attacker-controlled string as the executable path. The injected command appears as a normal menu item in the Run menu, making it a viable persistence mechanism. This vulnerability is fixed in 8.9.6.1.
Exploits (1)
This PoC demonstrates CVE-2026-48800 by injecting a malicious <Command> tag into Notepad++'s shortcuts.xml, allowing arbitrary code execution when the user clicks the injected menu item. The script automates the injection of a calc.exe payload into the XML file.
References (2)
Scores
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H