CVE-2026-71858

Notepad++: shortcuts.xml Macro HMAC Bypass Enables Conditional Elevated Command Execution

Published Aug 17, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 5.4 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. Prior to 8.9.7, macros loaded from an attacker-controlled shortcuts.xml bypass the HMAC validation applied to UserDefinedCommands and can invoke Scintilla actions and the internal Open in Default Viewer command in an elevated Notepad++ process, allowing protected file modification and conditional elevated command execution when a local attacker influences settingsDir and a user triggers the macro. This issue is fixed in version 8.9.7.

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-plus-plus notepad++
Vendors & Products Notepad-plus-plus
Notepad-plus-plus notepad++
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. Prior to 8.9.7, macros loaded from an attacker-controlled shortcuts.xml bypass the HMAC validation applied to UserDefinedCommands and can invoke Scintilla actions and the internal Open in Default Viewer command in an elevated Notepad++ process, allowing protected file modification and conditional elevated command execution when a local attacker influences settingsDir and a user triggers the macro. This issue is fixed in version 8.9.7.
Title Notepad++: shortcuts.xml Macro HMAC Bypass Enables Conditional Elevated Command Execution
Weaknesses CWE-345
CWE-693
CWE-78
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 5.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Aug 17, 2026, 8:26 PM
Reserved
Aug 7, 2026, 6:26 PM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Aug 17, 2026, 8:16 PM
Modified
Sep 9, 2026, 9:11 PM