CVE-2026-42214Public exploit

User-assisted command execution via filename extension injection

Published May 7, 2026 · Updated May 7, 2026

Code injection in Notepad Next before 0.14 allows attackers to execute commands by inducing a user to open a file with a crafted extension. detectLanguageFromExtension() inserts the QFileInfo::suffix() value into Lua source without escaping, while luaL_openlibs() exposes command-capable libraries. Exploitation requires the victim to open the file and runs commands with that victim's operating-system privileges; the demonstrated path applies to macOS and Linux filenames.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 17, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Code injection in Notepad Next before 0.14 allows attackers to execute commands by inducing a user to open a file with a crafted extension. detectLanguageFromExtension() inserts the QFileInfo::suffix() value into Lua source without escaping, while luaL_openlibs() exposes command-capable libraries. Exploitation requires the victim to open the file and runs commands with that victim's operating-system privileges; the demonstrated path applies to macOS and Linux filenames.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-42214
Published
May 7, 2026
Updated
May 7, 2026
Vendor
dail8859
Product
Notepad Next
Classifications
CWE-94, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 7, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 7, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 0.14

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

dail8859 · Notepad Nextversion=< 0.14

Published CVSS scores

7.8GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/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.

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
T1204.002Malicious File

Public exploit references

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

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo