# CVE-2026-23863: Other in WhatsApp Desktop for Windows

> Attackers can trick users into executing malicious files disguised as safe documents via filename spoofing in WhatsApp Desktop.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N/E:F/RL:O/RC:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 1 May 2026
- **Updated:** 1 May 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-75gp-7gp7-rqpf

## What is CVE-2026-23863?

CVE-2026-23863 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Facebook WhatsApp Desktop for Windows, published on 1 May 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

An attachment spoofing issue in WhatsApp for Windows prior to v2.3000.1032164386.258709 could have allowed maliciously formatted documents with embedded NUL bytes in the filename to be shown in the application as one type of file but run as an executable when opened. We have not seen evidence of exploitation in the wild.

Weakness: CWE-158 (Improper Neutralization of Null Byte or NUL Character)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-23863?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Whatsapp Whatsapp.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-23863?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-23863 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-23863 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-23863 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Facebook WhatsApp Desktop for Windows

- [CVE-2019-3568](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-3568/): WhatsApp VOIP Stack Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-18426](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-18426/): WhatsApp Cross-Site Scripting (high 8.2, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-55177](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-55177/): Meta Platforms WhatsApp Incorrect Authorization (medium 5.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-36934](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-36934/): Integer overflow in WhatsApp Business for Android (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-24042](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24042/): Memory corruption in WhatsApp Business for Android (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-23863 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-23863 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Facebook WhatsApp Desktop for Windows, published on 1 May 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-23863 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Facebook WhatsApp Desktop for Windows. 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-2026-23863/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-23863/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-23863
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-23863
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-23863

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-23863/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.