CVE-2026-85995 Notepad++: Authenticode verification bypass allows modified updater execution
Attackers can bypass Authenticode verification to execute modified updater code in Notepad++, requiring local file replacement privileges.
- 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-2026-85995?
CVE-2026-85995 is a high-severity vulnerability in notepad-plus-plus, published on 22 Sep 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. From 8.9.7 until 8.9.8, the Notepad++ updater and signature verification path can accept a modified GUP.exe file whose embedded certificate metadata remains present even though its Authenticode digest is invalid. An attacker who can replace or plant the updater-related file can cause Notepad++ to launch attacker-modified code when a user triggers the updater path, but the issue does not provide remote code execution by itself. This issue is fixed in version 8.9.8.
Weakness: CWE-347
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-85995?
How do I fix CVE-2026-85995?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-85995 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Is CVE-2026-85995 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-85995 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-cx87-7hhq-m2j3.