Notepad++: Arbitrary Code Execution via shortcuts.xml UserCommand Injection_CVE-2026-48800

7.8 / 10

HIGH

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Description

Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. Prior to 8.9.6.1, the <Command> tag text content inside <UserDefinedCommands> in shortcuts.xml is read by NppXml::value(aNode) (Parameters.cpp:3658) in the feedUserCmds() function and stored in UserCommand._cmd without any validation. When the user clicks the corresponding entry in the Run menu, NppCommands.cpp:4264 creates a Command object with string2wstring(ucmd.getCmd()) and calls run(), which invokes ShellExecute (RunDlg.cpp:221) with the attacker-controlled string as the executable path. The injected command appears as a normal menu item in the Run menu, making it a viable persistence mechanism. This vulnerability is fixed in 8.9.6.1.

Basic Information

ID CVE-2026-48800

Source GitHub_M

Published Jun 26, 2026 at 20:12

Affected Product

Vendor notepad-plus-plus

Product notepad-plus-plus

Version < 8.9.6.1

Affected Versions notepad-plus-plus notepad-plus-plus < 8.9.6.1

CWE Classification

CWE-78

References

{
    "lastseen": "",
    "description": "Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. Prior to 8.9.6.1, the <Command> tag text content inside <UserDefinedCommands> in shortcuts.xml is read by NppXml::value(aNode) (Parameters.cpp:3658) in the feedUserCmds() function and stored in UserCommand._cmd without any validation. When the user clicks the corresponding entry in the Run menu, NppCommands.cpp:4264 creates a Command object with string2wstring(ucmd.getCmd()) and calls run(), which invokes ShellExecute (RunDlg.cpp:221) with the attacker-controlled string as the executable path. The injected command appears as a normal menu item in the Run menu, making it a viable persistence mechanism.  This vulnerability is fixed in 8.9.6.1.",
    "published": "2026-06-26T20:12:43.955Z",
    "modified": "2026-06-26T20:12:43.955Z",
    "type": "cve",
    "title": "Notepad++: Arbitrary Code Execution via shortcuts.xml UserCommand Injection",
    "source": "GitHub_M",
    "references": "https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-3x3f-3j39-pj3v\nhttps://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/6b3dc52a9245c6d8c6287a8d6d93a30981c05feb",
    "id": "CVE-2026-48800",
    "bulletinFamily": "",
    "cwe": [
        "CWE-78"
    ],
    "cvelist": null,
    "sourceData": "notepad-plus-plus notepad-plus-plus < 8.9.6.1",
    "sourceHref": "",
    "cvss": {
        "score": 7.8,
        "severity": "HIGH",
        "vector": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
        "version": "3.1"
    },
    "cvss2": [],
    "cvss3": {
        "version": "",
        "vectorString": "",
        "baseScore": 0,
        "baseSeverity": "",
        "attackVector": "",
        "attackComplexity": "",
        "privilegesRequired": "",
        "userInteraction": "",
        "scope": "",
        "confidentialityImpact": "",
        "integrityImpact": "",
        "availabilityImpact": "",
        "cvssV3": {
            "version": "",
            "vectorString": "",
            "baseScore": 0,
            "baseSeverity": "",
            "attackVector": "",
            "attackComplexity": "",
            "privilegesRequired": "",
            "userInteraction": "",
            "scope": "",
            "confidentialityImpact": "",
            "integrityImpact": "",
            "availabilityImpact": ""
        }
    },
    "href": "",
    "category_name": "CVE",
    "post_link": "",
    "product": "notepad-plus-plus",
    "version": "< 8.9.6.1",
    "vendor": "notepad-plus-plus",
    "ai_description": "",
    "ai_severity": "",
    "ai_vendor": "",
    "ai_product": "",
    "ai_version": "",
    "ai_score": 0
}