CVE-2026-25926Public exploit

Local code execution via bare Explorer path

Published Feb 18, 2026 · Updated Feb 18, 2026

Unsafe search path handling in Notepad++ before 8.9.2 allows local users to execute code when the application launches Windows Explorer. The folder-browser command builder passes the bare name explorer to Command, so Windows can resolve an attacker-controlled explorer.exe from the process working directory before System32. Exploitation requires control of a searched directory and user interaction that invokes Explorer; the code runs with the application's privileges.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.25%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unsafe search path handling in Notepad++ before 8.9.2 allows local users to execute code when the application launches Windows Explorer. The folder-browser command builder passes the bare name explorer to Command, so Windows can resolve an attacker-controlled explorer.exe from the process working directory before System32. Exploitation requires control of a searched directory and user interaction that invokes Explorer; the code runs with the application's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-25926
Published
Feb 18, 2026
Updated
Feb 18, 2026
Vendor
Notepad++
Product
Notepad++
Classifications
CWE-426, T1574.008
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 18, 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=< 8.9.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Notepad++ · Notepad++version=< 8.9.2

Published CVSS scores

7.3GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/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.

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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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-426Untrusted Search Path
T1574.008Path Interception by Search Order Hijacking

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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