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CVE-2025-49144

Notepad++ Privilege Escalation in Installer via Uncontrolled Executable Search Path

Published: Jun 23, 2025Updated: Dec 24, 2025 Sources: CVE List NVD BDUCWE-272
7.3HIGH
NVD MITRE
EPSS Score
0.4%
Top 65.0%
CISA KEV
Not in KEV
Exploits
No Known Exploits
Remediation
Patch Available
Self-Check
OpenVAS

Description

Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. In versions 8.8.1 and prior, a privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the Notepad++ v8.8.1 installer that allows unprivileged users to gain SYSTEM-level privileges through insecure executable search paths. An attacker could use social engineering or clickjacking to trick users into downloading both the legitimate installer and a malicious executable to the same directory (typically Downloads folder - which is known as Vulnerable directory). Upon running the installer, the attack executes automatically with SYSTEM privileges. This issue has been fixed and will be released in version 8.8.2.

No summary for this CVE yet.

CVSS Vector Breakdown

AV:LAC:LPR:LUI:RS:UC:HI:HA:H
Exploitability
AV:LAttack Vector
Local
AC:LAttack Complexity
Low
PR:LPrivileges Required
Low
UI:RUser Interaction
Required
Scope
S:UScope
Unchanged
Impact
C:HConfidentiality
High
I:HIntegrity
High
A:HAvailability
High
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Weaknesses

CWE-272CWE-276CWE-427

Affected Products

notepad-plus-plus
commercialaka notepad++, notepad+ plus, notepad plus plus
notepad-plus-plusOn-prem
Consumer Software / productivity
Don Ho
commercial
Notepad++Mixed
Consumer Software / file-utility

Exploitability

Official Patch Available
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Attack Graph

Products CVE Techniques Tactics

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MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques
Persistence
Privilege Escalation
View detailed technique mapping

References

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11yeUSWgqHvt4Bz5jO3ilRRfcpQZ6Gvpn
drive.google.com
https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/f2346ea00d5b4d907ed39d8726b38d77c8198f30
github.com
https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-9vx8-v79m-6m24
github.com
and 6 more references View all →

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