CVE-2026-71858
Notepad++: shortcuts.xml Macro HMAC Bypass Enables Conditional Elevated Command Execution
Description
Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. Prior to 8.9.7, macros loaded from an attacker-controlled shortcuts.xml bypass the HMAC validation applied to UserDefinedCommands and can invoke Scintilla actions and the internal Open in Default Viewer command in an elevated Notepad++ process, allowing protected file modification and conditional elevated command execution when a local attacker influences settingsDir and a user triggers the macro. This issue is fixed in version 8.9.7.
Weaknesses
Affected Products
Exploitability
Attack Graph
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MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniquesReferences
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