---
id: CVE-2026-85279
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,
  Notepad++ contains a stack buffer overflow in
  PluginsManager::loadPluginFromPath in
  PowerEditor/src/MISC/PluginsManager/PluginsManager.cpp because the
  plugin-supplie…
severity: high
cvss: 8.6
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-121
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-2026-85279'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/70b88f95311d88523cde6be1b1ec938aa48c24bc
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/f1e1c71b090d69ca0f0175ab73895da41db67a16
    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-h2wq-6x75-h8q2
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://notepad-plus-plus.org/news/v898-released'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-h2wq-6x75-h8q2
    label: 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
tags:
  - nvd
  - cve.org
  - exploit-available
epss: 0.00224
epssPercentile: 0.11699
exploitAvailable: true
ssvc:
  exploitation: poc
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2026-09-22T18:26:50.811152Z'
ingestedAt: '2026-09-22T18:08:12.501Z'
---

## Overview

Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. Prior to 8.9.8, Notepad++ contains a stack buffer overflow in PluginsManager::loadPluginFromPath in PowerEditor/src/MISC/PluginsManager/PluginsManager.cpp because the plugin-supplied GetLexerCount() result controls a loop that writes to containers[30] without enforcing NB_MAX_EXTERNAL_LANG. A malicious or compromised plugin that reports more than 30 lexers can write beyond the stack array and corrupt control data, which can permit arbitrary code execution in the Notepad++ process context. This issue is fixed in version 8.9.8.

## Remediation

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