6.7Medium

CVE-2026-85288

Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. Prior to 8.9.8, Notepad++ incompletely enforces shortcuts.xml HMAC validation because WM_MACRODLGRUNMACRO, the Run a Macro Multiple Times entry point, calls macroPlayback() without the validation used by command(). A tampered shortcuts.xml macro that is blocked through the Macro menu or a shortcut key can therefore execute through the multi-run dialog and invoke internal Notepad++ commands, including commands that launch external programs, in the current user context. This issue is fixed in version 8.9.8.

What this means for your business

An attacker can use it only with access to the machine itself, with an ordinary user login, but only after tricking someone into an action such as opening a file or a link.
FIRST's prediction model gives it a 0.1% chance of attack attempts being seen in the next 30 days, ranking above 2% of all known flaws.

What to do

1Ask your IT team or provider whether any of your systems use the affected product.
2If you do, follow the vendor's guidance. No patch reference has been published yet.

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CVE-2026-85288

What this means for your business

What to do

Not sure if your company is exposed to CVE-2026-85288?

Scoring

Dates

References