EUVD-2026-60373Severity by source
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/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Local vector with high complexity due to settingsDir control prerequisite; scope change applies because the attack targets an elevated process beyond the attacker's initial integrity level.
Primary rating from Vendor (github).
CVSS VectorVendor: github
Lifecycle Timeline
4DescriptionCVE.org
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.
AnalysisAI
Macro command injection in Notepad++ prior to 8.9.7 enables local privilege escalation by bypassing HMAC integrity validation on shortcuts.xml-sourced macros. An attacker who can place a malicious shortcuts.xml in the application's settingsDir can embed macro payloads that invoke Scintilla actions and the internal 'Open in Default Viewer' command within an elevated Notepad++ process, resulting in protected file modification or elevated command execution when a user triggers the macro. …
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Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata
Vulnerability AssessmentAI
| Exploitation | Three conditions must align simultaneously: (1) the attacker must have local write access to the Notepad++ settingsDir or the ability to redirect path resolution so an elevated process loads shortcuts.xml from an attacker-controlled location; (2) Notepad++ must be running or launchable with elevated privileges (e.g., via 'Run as Administrator' or by an administrator-level user); and (3) a user within that elevated session must manually trigger a macro. … Additional conditions and limiting factors are described in the full assessment. |
| Risk Assessment | The CVSS 4.0 score of 5.4 with vector AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P accurately characterises a constrained local privilege escalation with multiple hard prerequisites. … Full risk analysis with EPSS, KEV, and SSVC signal comparison available after sign-in. |
| Exploit Scenario | Full exploit scenario with step-by-step reproduction available after sign-in. |
| Remediation | Upgrade to Notepad++ version 8.9.7 or later, available at https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/releases/tag/v8.9.7; this is the only confirmed fix per the GitHub advisory GHSA-f4rj-vqq4-wvg4. … Detailed patch versions, workarounds, and compensating controls in full report. |
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Same weakness CWE-78 – OS Command Injection
View allSame technique Command Injection
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External POC / Exploit Code
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