CVE-2026-85995Public exploitHinoki check available

Modified updater execution via incomplete Authenticode validation

Published Sep 22, 2026 · Updated Sep 22, 2026

Improper signature verification in Notepad++ 8.9.7 allows local users to execute modified updater code through the GUI updater path. The verifier accepts GUP.exe when embedded certificate metadata remains present even though the Authenticode digest no longer matches the file. Exploitation requires replacing or planting the updater artifact and user interaction to trigger the updater; the flaw provides no remote execution path by itself.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.12%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkAvailable
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Summary

What happened

Improper signature verification in Notepad++ 8.9.7 allows local users to execute modified updater code through the GUI updater path. The verifier accepts GUP.exe when embedded certificate metadata remains present even though the Authenticode digest no longer matches the file. Exploitation requires replacing or planting the updater artifact and user interaction to trigger the updater; the flaw provides no remote execution path by itself.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-85995
Published
Sep 22, 2026
Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Vendor
Notepad++
Product
Notepad++
Classifications
CWE-347, T1553.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 22, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 22, 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=< 8.9.8

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Notepad++ · Notepad++version=< 8.9.8

Published CVSS scores

7.3GitHubCVSS: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.

Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.

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

No observations available

Sep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 28, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-347Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature
T1553.002Subvert Trust Controls: Code Signing

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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