CVE-2026-25866

Local code execution via unqualified editor path

Published Mar 9, 2026 · Updated Mar 9, 2026

Uncontrolled search path handling in MobaXterm before 26.1 allows local users to execute arbitrary code through its file editor. The remote-file open path passes the configured Notepad++ executable to WinExec without a fully qualified, quoted path, so Windows can select an attacker-planted executable earlier in its search order. Exploitation requires local filesystem write access and a subsequent file-open action in MobaXterm; code runs with the affected user's privileges.

CVSS severity8.5
High
EPSS probability0.13%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Uncontrolled search path handling in MobaXterm before 26.1 allows local users to execute arbitrary code through its file editor. The remote-file open path passes the configured Notepad++ executable to WinExec without a fully qualified, quoted path, so Windows can select an attacker-planted executable earlier in its search order. Exploitation requires local filesystem write access and a subsequent file-open action in MobaXterm; code runs with the affected user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-25866
Published
Mar 9, 2026
Updated
Mar 9, 2026
Vendor
Mobatek
Product
MobaXterm
Classifications
CWE-428, T1574.009
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 9, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 9, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <26.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Mobatek · MobaXtermversion=0 <26.1

Published CVSS scores

8.5VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
7.8VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-428Unquoted Search Path or Element
T1574.009Hijack Execution Flow: Path Interception by Unquoted Path

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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