# CVE-2019-16294: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service in Notepad++ by tricking users into opening a crafted .ml file.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Sep 2019
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-75x3-f928-c337

## What is CVE-2019-16294?

CVE-2019-16294 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 14 Sep 2019. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

SciLexer.dll in Scintilla in Notepad++ (x64) before 7.7 allows remote code execution or denial of service via Unicode characters in a crafted .ml file.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-16294?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Notepad-Plus-Plus Notepad\+\+, Scintilla Scintilla.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-16294?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-16294 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-16294 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-16294 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- Notepad++ < 7.7 (x64)  - Denial of Service (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2025-15556](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-15556/): Notepad++ Download of Code Without Integrity Check (high 7.7, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-48778](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-48778/): Notepad++: Arbitrary Code Execution via config.xml commandLineInterpreter (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2026-48800](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-48800/): Notepad++: Arbitrary Code Execution via shortcuts.xml UserCommand Injection (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2026-52884](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-52884/): Notepad++: CVE-2026-48800 Bypass (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2023-47452](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-47452/): Privilege escalation in n/a (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-16294 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-16294 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 14 Sep 2019. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-16294 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16294/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16294/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-16294
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-16294
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-16294

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16294/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.