CVE-2023-6401 NotePad++ dbghelp.exe uncontrolled search path
Local attackers can exploit an uncontrolled search path in dbghelp.exe to execute arbitrary code via DLL hijacking.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2023-6401?
CVE-2023-6401 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in NotePad++, published on 30 Nov 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in NotePad++ up to 8.1. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file dbghelp.exe. The manipulation leads to uncontrolled search path. An attack has to be approached locally. The identifier VDB-246421 was assigned to this vulnerability. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
Weakness: CWE-427
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-6401?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Notepad-Plus-Plus Notepad\+\+.
How do I fix CVE-2023-6401?
No fix has been published for CVE-2023-6401 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.
Is CVE-2023-6401 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-6401 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Public exploit code: 1 proofs of concept on GitHub.
Other vulnerabilities in NotePad++
- CVE-2025-15556 Notepad++ Download of Code Without Integrity Check
- CVE-2026-48778 Notepad++: Arbitrary Code Execution via config.xml commandLineInterpreter
- CVE-2026-48800 Notepad++: Arbitrary Code Execution via shortcuts.xml UserCommand Injection
- CVE-2026-52884 Notepad++: CVE-2026-48800 Bypass
- CVE-2023-47452 Privilege escalation in n/a
Sources
Also known as GHSA-w9qm-5wjh-3m5x.