Detections
Analytics
Notepad++ <= 8.9.3 Stack-based Buffer Overflow (CVE-2026-5525)
medium Nessus Plugin ID 306546
Synopsis
A text editor on the remote Windows host is affected by a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability.Description
The version of Notepad++ installed on the remote host is 8.9.3 or earlier. It is, therefore, affected by a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability:- A stack-based buffer overflow exists in the file drop handler component (WM_DROPFILES). When a user drags and drops a directory path of exactly 259 characters without a trailing backslash, the application appends a backslash and null terminator without proper bounds checking, resulting in a stack buffer overflow and application crash. (CVE-2026-5525)
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 a version of Notepad++ later than 8.9.3 when available.See Also
https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/issues/17921
https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/pull/17930
Plugin Details
Severity: Medium
ID: 306546
File Name: notepad_plus_plus_CVE-2026-5525.nasl
Version: 1.1
Type: Local
Agent: windows
Family: Windows
Published: 4/15/2026
Updated: 4/15/2026
Configuration: Enable thorough checks (optional)
Supported Sensors: Nessus Agent, Nessus
Risk Information
VPR
Risk Factor: Medium
Score: 6.0
CVSS v2
Risk Factor: Medium
Base Score: 5.6
Vector: CVSS2#AV:L/AC:H/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:N
CVSS Score Source: CVE-2026-5525
CVSS v3
Risk Factor: Medium
Base Score: 6
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
CVSS v4
Risk Factor: Medium
Base Score: 5.3
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Vulnerability Information
CPE: cpe:/a:notepad-plus-plus:notepad%5c%2b%5c%2b
Required KB Items: SMB/Registry/Enumerated, installed_sw/Notepad++
Vulnerability Publication Date: 3/31/2026
Reference Information
CVE: CVE-2026-5525