CVE-2026-86056

Notepad++: Null pointer dereference in NPPM_SAVESESSION message handler causes crash (DoS)

Published Sep 22, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. Prior to 8.9.8, the NPPM_SAVESESSION handler in PowerEditor/src/NppBigSwitch.cpp converts lParam to a sessionInfo pointer and dereferences its nbFile, files, and sessionFilePathName members without checking for null. A process running at the same or a higher Windows integrity level on the same desktop can send NPPM_SAVESESSION with a null lParam, immediately terminating Notepad++ and causing denial of service and loss of unsaved documents. This issue is fixed in version 8.9.8.

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': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. Prior to 8.9.8, the NPPM_SAVESESSION handler in PowerEditor/src/NppBigSwitch.cpp converts lParam to a sessionInfo pointer and dereferences its nbFile, files, and sessionFilePathName members without checking for null. A process running at the same or a higher Windows integrity level on the same desktop can send NPPM_SAVESESSION with a null lParam, immediately terminating Notepad++ and causing denial of service and loss of unsaved documents. This issue is fixed in version 8.9.8.
Title Notepad++: Null pointer dereference in NPPM_SAVESESSION message handler causes crash (DoS)
Weaknesses CWE-476
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Sep 22, 2026, 5:40 PM
Reserved
Sep 4, 2026, 7:29 PM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Sep 22, 2026, 6:17 PM
Modified
Sep 23, 2026, 6:28 PM