High severity · published Sep 22, 2026
CVE-2026-85995
Notepad++: Authenticode verification bypass allows modified updater execution
7.3
CVSS
0.1%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. From 8.9.7 until 8.9.8, the Notepad++ updater and signature verification path can accept a modified GUP.exe file whose embedded certificate metadata remains present even though its Authenticode digest is invalid. An attacker who can replace or plant the updater-related file can cause Notepad++ to launch attacker-modified code when a user triggers the updater path, but the issue does not provide remote code execution by itself. This issue is fixed in version 8.9.8.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges
Low
User interaction
Required
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.1% · higher than 2% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
NO
notepad-plus-plus · notepad-plus-plus
< 8.9.8 · source: vendor
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-85995
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-85995
github.com
https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/9edf40f725ce62b26c454905e39f0f7fdbbb3ffa
github.com
https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/releases/tag/v8.9.8
github.com
https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-cx87-7hhq-m2j3
notepad-plus-plus.org
https://notepad-plus-plus.org/news/v898-released
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