CVE-2026-71858 PUBLISHED

Notepad++: shortcuts.xml Macro HMAC Bypass Enables Conditional Elevated Command Execution

Assigner: GitHub_M
Reserved: 07.08.2026 Published: 17.08.2026 Updated: 17.08.2026

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.

Metrics

CVSS Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CVSS Score: 5.4

Product Status

Vendor notepad-plus-plus
Product notepad-plus-plus
Versions
  • Version < 8.9.7 is affected

References

Problem Types

  • CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') CWE
  • CWE-345: Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity CWE
  • CWE-693: Protection Mechanism Failure CWE