CVE-2026-25926

Notepad++ has an Untrusted Search Path

Published Feb 18, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.3 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
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.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Notepad-plus-plus notepad\+\+
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:notepad-plus-plus:notepad\+\+:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Notepad-plus-plus notepad\+\+
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Notepad-plus-plus
Notepad-plus-plus notepad++
Vendors & Products Notepad-plus-plus
Notepad-plus-plus notepad++
Type Values Removed Values Added
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.
Title Notepad++ has an Untrusted Search Path
Weaknesses CWE-426
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Feb 19, 2026, 5:45 PM
Reserved
Feb 9, 2026, 4:22 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Feb 19, 2026, 12:16 AM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 10:25 AM