Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. Prior to 8.9.6.4, NppCommands.cpp checks the HMAC of the on-disk shortcuts.xml at the moment a user command fires (Time-of-Check). However, the command payload is taken from the in-memory _userCommands vector, which is populated at application startup and never re-synchronized with the on-disk file (Time-of-Use). Swapping shortcuts.xml between startup and command execution causes the HMAC check to validate a clean file while a malicious command runs. An attacker with write access to shortcuts.xml places a malicious version on disk before launch, then immediately restores the legitimate file. The HMAC check at execution time validates the restored legitimate file (check passes), while the malicious payload executes from memory. This vulnerability is fixed in 8.9.6.4.
References
| Link | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/4f7563c7c7f8ffa0d795ec86a7777067c7d644b5 | Patch |
| https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-qm4c-qg8p-qfcr | Exploit Patch Vendor Advisory |
| https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-qm4c-qg8p-qfcr | Exploit Patch Vendor Advisory |
Configurations
History
29 Jun 2026, 21:22
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| References | () https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/4f7563c7c7f8ffa0d795ec86a7777067c7d644b5 - Patch | |
| References | () https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-qm4c-qg8p-qfcr - Exploit, Patch, Vendor Advisory | |
| First Time |
Notepad-plus-plus
Notepad-plus-plus notepad\+\+ |
|
| CVSS |
v2 : v3 : |
v2 : unknown
v3 : 6.3 |
| CPE | cpe:2.3:a:notepad-plus-plus:notepad\+\+:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
29 Jun 2026, 14:16
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| References | () https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-qm4c-qg8p-qfcr - |
26 Jun 2026, 21:16
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| New CVE |
Information
Published : 2026-06-26 21:16
Updated : 2026-06-29 21:22
NVD link : CVE-2026-52885
Mitre link : CVE-2026-52885
CVE.ORG link : CVE-2026-52885
JSON object : View
Products Affected
notepad-plus-plus
- notepad\+\+
CWE
CWE-367
Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition
