CVE-2026-77605

Notepad++ “Run by system” executes *.txt.cmd when user selected *.txt (target confusion → command execution)

HIGH
7.8
CVSS Score
Published: September 22, 2026 at 05:13 PM UTC
Updated: September 28, 2026 at 06:17 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorPlus Plus Notepad

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Severity
HIGH7.8
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%
SSVC
PoC

Description

Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. Prior to 8.9.8, the Folder as Workspace Run by system action in Notepad++ can resolve a different sibling file than the file selected by the user. When an attacker places a command script whose name is the selected text-file path with .cmd appended, and the user invokes Run by system on the text file on Windows 10 or Windows 11, Notepad++ can execute the sibling script as the current user instead of opening the selected file. This issue is fixed in version 8.9.8.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v < 8.9.8
Affected range stops below 8.9.8, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet, and no fixed version or vendor advisory is recorded against it.

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCPoCNot automatableTotal impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

7.8HIGHGitHub_M
Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
REQUIRED
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusAWAITING ANALYSIS
CWE
CWE-20CWE-706

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