CVE-2026-23863

WhatsApp Windows Filename Spoofing Leading to Potential Execution of Malicious Payload

Published May 1, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 6.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
An attachment spoofing issue in WhatsApp for Windows prior to v2.3000.1032164386.258709 could have allowed maliciously formatted documents with embedded NUL bytes in the filename to be shown in the application as one type of file but run as an executable when opened. We have not seen evidence of exploitation in the wild.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Whatsapp whatsapp
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:whatsapp:whatsapp:*:*:*:*:*:windows:*:*
Vendors & Products Whatsapp whatsapp
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Whatsapp
Whatsapp whatsapp Desktop
Vendors & Products Whatsapp
Whatsapp whatsapp Desktop
Type Values Removed Values Added
Title WhatsApp Windows Filename Spoofing Leading to Potential Execution of Malicious Payload
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-158
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description An attachment spoofing issue in WhatsApp for Windows prior to v2.3000.1032164386.258709 could have allowed maliciously formatted documents with embedded NUL bytes in the filename to be shown in the application as one type of file but run as an executable when opened. An attachment spoofing issue in WhatsApp for Windows prior to v2.3000.1032164386.258709 could have allowed maliciously formatted documents with embedded NUL bytes in the filename to be shown in the application as one type of file but run as an executable when opened. We have not seen evidence of exploitation in the wild.
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N/E:F/RL:O/RC:C'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description An attachment spoofing issue in WhatsApp for Windows prior to v2.3000.1032164386.258709 could have allowed maliciously formatted documents with embedded NUL bytes in the filename to be shown in the application as one type of file but run as an executable when opened.
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Meta
Published
Updated
May 1, 2026, 5:41 PM
Reserved
Jan 16, 2026, 7:49 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
May 1, 2026, 4:16 PM
Modified
Oct 26, 2026, 10:10 PM