Local code execution via Msimg32.dll search order
Published Feb 16, 2026 · Updated Feb 16, 2026
DLL search-order hijacking in flo's freeware Notepad2 4.2.22 through 4.2.25 allows local users to execute code at application startup. At startup, Notepad2 searches its launch directory for Msimg32.dll and automatically loads an attacker-supplied file from that location. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access to place the DLL beside the executable and run Notepad2; payloads inherit the launching user's privileges.
Summary
What happened
DLL search-order hijacking in flo's freeware Notepad2 4.2.22 through 4.2.25 allows local users to execute code at application startup. At startup, Notepad2 searches its launch directory for Msimg32.dll and automatically loads an attacker-supplied file from that location. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access to place the DLL beside the executable and run Notepad2; payloads inherit the launching user's privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-2538
- Published
- Feb 16, 2026
- Updated
- Feb 16, 2026
- Vendor
- flo's freeware
- Product
- Notepad2
- Classifications
- CWE-427, CWE-426, T1574.002
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 16, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 16, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=4.2.22
- Affected versionversion=4.2.23
- Affected versionversion=4.2.24
- Affected versionversion=4.2.25
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Notepad2 Msimg32.dll hijacking proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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