CVE-2026-25926
An Unsafe Search Path vulnerability (CWE-426) exists in versions prior to 8.9.2 when launching Windows Explorer without an absolute executable path.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (0.25%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
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.
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.3 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 0.25% probability · 16th percentile
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-426
- Affected
- notepad-plus-plus/notepad\+\+
- Source
- security-advisories@github.com
References
- https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/releases/tag/v8.9.2Product, Release Notes
- https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-rjvm-fcxw-2jxqExploit, Vendor Advisory
- https://notepad-plus-plus.org/news/v892-releasedPress/Media Coverage
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA. Refreshed daily.