---
id: CVE-2026-86056
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
  NPPM_SAVESESSION handler in PowerEditor/src/NppBigSwitch.cpp converts lParam
  to a sessionInfo pointer and dereferences its nbFile, files, and
  sessionFilePathName…
severity: medium
cvss: 5.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-476
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-2026-86056'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/8b33f52e7aa488b1222d3cfce5903a38dd63101f
    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-j85c-6wc9-p98p
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://notepad-plus-plus.org/news/v898-released'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
tags:
  - nvd
  - cve.org
  - exploit-available
epss: 0.00162
epssPercentile: 0.04628
exploitAvailable: true
ssvc:
  exploitation: poc
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: partial
  timestamp: '2026-09-22T17:40:16.206252Z'
ingestedAt: '2026-09-22T18:08:12.490Z'
---

## Overview

Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. Prior to 8.9.8, the NPPM_SAVESESSION handler in PowerEditor/src/NppBigSwitch.cpp converts lParam to a sessionInfo pointer and dereferences its nbFile, files, and sessionFilePathName members without checking for null. A process running at the same or a higher Windows integrity level on the same desktop can send NPPM_SAVESESSION with a null lParam, immediately terminating Notepad++ and causing denial of service and loss of unsaved documents. This issue is fixed in version 8.9.8.

## Remediation

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