CVE-2026-3008Public exploit

Memory disclosure and crash via localization format string

Published Apr 27, 2026 · Updated Apr 27, 2026

Format string injection in Notepad++ 8.9.3 allows context-dependent attackers to disclose memory addresses or crash the application. The Find Results initializer passes the nativeLang.xml find-result-hits value directly to wsprintfW as its format string, causing specifiers to consume unintended register and stack values. Exploitation requires a user to install or select a tampered language pack and then run a search; the result is pointer-fragment disclosure or a repeatable process crash, not code execution.

CVSS severity6.6
Medium
EPSS probability0.22%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Format string injection in Notepad++ 8.9.3 allows context-dependent attackers to disclose memory addresses or crash the application. The Find Results initializer passes the nativeLang.xml find-result-hits value directly to wsprintfW as its format string, causing specifiers to consume unintended register and stack values. Exploitation requires a user to install or select a tampered language pack and then run a search; the result is pointer-fragment disclosure or a repeatable process crash, not code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-3008
Published
Apr 27, 2026
Updated
Apr 27, 2026
Vendor
Notepad++
Product
Notepad++
Classifications
CWE-134, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 27, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 27, 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=8.9.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Notepad++ · Notepad++version=8.9.3

Published CVSS scores

6.6Cyber Security Agency of SingaporeCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-134Use of Externally-Controlled Format String
T1204.002Malicious File

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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