Notepad++ < 8.9.2 Unsafe Search Path (GHSA-rjvm-fcxw-2jxq)

high Nessus Plugin ID 299664

Synopsis

A text editor on the remote Windows host is affected by an unsafe search path vulnerability.

Description

The version of Notepad++ installed on the remote host is prior to 8.9.2. It is, therefore, affected by a vulnerability:

- An Unsafe Search Path vulnerability (CWE-426) exists when launching Windows Explorer without an absolute executable path. This may allow execution of a malicious explorer.exe if an attacker can control the process working directory. Under certain conditions, this could lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the running application.
(CVE-2026-25926)

Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

Solution

Upgrade to Notepad++ version 8.9.2 or later.

Plugin Details

Severity: High

ID: 299664

File Name: notepad_plus_plus_8_9_2.nasl

Version: 1.1

Type: local

Agent: windows

Family: Windows

Published: 2/20/2026

Updated: 2/20/2026

Configuration: Enable thorough checks (optional)

Supported Sensors: Nessus Agent, Nessus

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: High

Score: 7.4

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: Medium

Base Score: 6.8

Vector: CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS Score Source: CVE-2026-25926

CVSS v3

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 7.3

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Vulnerability Information

CPE: cpe:/a:notepad-plus-plus:notepad%5c%2b%5c%2b

Required KB Items: installed_sw/Notepad++, SMB/Registry/Enumerated

Patch Publication Date: 2/16/2026

Vulnerability Publication Date: 2/16/2026

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2026-25926

Detections

Analytics