CVE-2026-73250 Notepad++: Install-time PowerShell command injection through installation path
Attackers can execute arbitrary PowerShell commands during Notepad++ installation if a malicious path is used and the context menu component is selected.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-73250?
CVE-2026-73250 is a medium-severity command injection vulnerability in notepad-plus-plus, published on 11 Aug 2026. 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
Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. Prior to 8.9.7, the Notepad++ Windows 11 x64 and ARM64 installer passes the attacker-influenced installation directory `$INSTDIR` from PowerEditor/installer/nppSetup.nsi into a PowerShell `-Command` string used by RegisterMSIX to invoke Add-AppxPackage, allowing PowerShell subexpression syntax such as `$()` in the installation path to execute commands in the installer's security context when the context menu component is selected. This issue is fixed in version 8.9.7.
Weakness: CWE-77
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-73250?
How do I fix CVE-2026-73250?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-73250 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade, and pass arguments to programs as a list instead of through a shell. More about Command injection.
Is CVE-2026-73250 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-73250 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-gp2r-262h-9hgf.