CVE-2025-49144
Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. In versions 8.8.1 and prior, a privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the Notepad++ v8.8.1 installer that allows unprivileged users to gain SYSTEM-level privileges through insecure executable search paths. An attacker could use social engineering or clickjacking to trick users into downloading both the legitimate installer and a malicious executable to the same directory (typically Downloads folder - which is known as Vulnerable directory). Upon running the installer, the attack executes automatically with SYSTEM privileges. This issue has been fixed and will be released in version 8.8.2.
Scoring
- Severity
- HIGH
- CVSS base score
- 7.3
- CVSS vector
- CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS probability
- 0.61%
- CWE
- CWE-272, CWE-276, CWE-427
- Published
- 2025-06-23
- Last modified
- 2026-03-13
Affected products
- notepad-plus-plus notepad-plus-plus
Weakness type
Related vulnerabilities
- CVE-2026-79693 — Dell SCG 5.0 Appliance versions prior to 5.36.00.16 and Dell SCG 5.0 Application versions prior to...
- CVE-2026-79944 — Dell SCG 5.0 Appliance versions prior to 5.36.00.16 and Dell SCG 5.0 Application versions prior to...
- CVE-2025-62299 — HCL IntelliOps Event Management is affected by multiple security vulnerabilities.
- CVE-2026-59915 — Dell Alienware Command Center (AWCC), versions prior to 6.14.20.0, contain a Least Privilege...
- CVE-2026-49500 — Dell Alienware Command Center (AWCC), versions prior to 6.14.20.0, contain an Improper Link...
- CVE-2026-15271 — TOTOLINK EX200 Web boa.conf least privilege violation
- CVE-2026-15270 — D-link DIR-823G Web boa.conf least privilege violation
- CVE-2026-11620 — TOTOLINK EX200 vsftpd vsftpd.conf least privilege violation