---
id: CVE-2026-77605
title: Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor
summary: >-
  Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. Prior to 8.9.8, the
  Folder as Workspace Run by system action in Notepad++ can resolve a different
  sibling file than the file selected by the user. When an attacker places a
  command …
severity: high
cvss: 7.8
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-20
  - CWE-706
vendor: notepad-plus-plus
product: notepad-plus-plus
affected:
  - notepad-plus-plus < 8.9.8
published: '2026-09-22'
updated: '2026-09-23'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-23T18:28:25.093'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-77605'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/00fa5df0da1d4f6b334317aa979db13ac77ee24d
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/releases/tag/v8.9.8'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-w5xq-frjg-w4cw
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://notepad-plus-plus.org/news/v898-released'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
tags:
  - nvd
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00186
epssPercentile: 0.07338
ingestedAt: '2026-09-22T18:08:12.500Z'
---

## Overview

Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. Prior to 8.9.8, the Folder as Workspace Run by system action in Notepad++ can resolve a different sibling file than the file selected by the user. When an attacker places a command script whose name is the selected text-file path with .cmd appended, and the user invokes Run by system on the text file on Windows 10 or Windows 11, Notepad++ can execute the sibling script as the current user instead of opening the selected file. This issue is fixed in version 8.9.8.

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.