Local Privilege Escalation in Notepad++ Installer Affects Multiple Versions
CVE-2026-46710

7.5HIGH

Key Information:

Vendor

Notepad-plus-plus

Status
Notepad-plus-plus
Vendor
CVE Published:
26 June 2026

What is CVE-2026-46710?

The Notepad++ installer versions 8.9.4 to 8.9.6 are vulnerable to local privilege escalation due to improper handling of the PowerShell executable during installation. When the installer is executed in a user-writable custom installation directory, an attacker can place a malicious version of powershell.exe. If a privileged user runs the installer from this compromised directory, the malicious executable is triggered with elevated privileges, potentially compromising the system. This issue has been addressed in the updated version 8.9.6.

Affected Version(s)

notepad-plus-plus >= 8.9.4, < 8.9.6

References

https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/se...
x_refsource_CONFIRM
https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/co...
x_refsource_MISC

CVSS V4

Score:
7.5
Severity:
HIGH
Confidentiality:
High
Integrity:
High
Availability:
High
Attack Vector:
Local
Attack Complexity:
High
Attack Required:
None
Privileges Required:
Undefined
User Interaction:
None

Timeline

  • Vulnerability published

  • Vulnerability Reserved

.