CVE-2026-48800CWE-78

Notepad++: Arbitrary Code Execution via shortcuts.xml UserCommand Injection

High · published June 26, 2026

CVSS v3.1
7.8
EPSS
0%
Percentile
10.5
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

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.

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
7.8 · HIGH
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.00209 · 10.5th percentile
Weakness
CWE-78 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Published
2026-06-26T20:12Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 26 JUN 20:12Z
    Notepad++: Arbitrary Code Execution via shortcuts.xml UserCommand Injection
    cvelistv5