CVE-2025-49144
Notepad++ Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Description
Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. In versions 8.8.1 and prior, a privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the Notepad++ v8.8.1 installer that allows unprivileged users to gain SYSTEM-level privileges through insecure executable search paths. An attacker could use social engineering or clickjacking to trick users into downloading both the legitimate installer and a malicious executable to the same directory (typically Downloads folder - which is known as Vulnerable directory). Upon running the installer, the attack executes automatically with SYSTEM privileges. This issue has been fixed and will be released in version 8.8.2.
INFO
Published Date :
June 23, 2025, 7:15 p.m.
Last Modified :
June 23, 2025, 8:16 p.m.
Source :
[email protected]
Remotely Exploitable :
No
Impact Score :
5.9
Exploitability Score :
1.3
Public PoC/Exploit Available at Github
CVE-2025-49144 has a 13 public PoC/Exploit available at Github.
Go to the Public Exploits tab to see the list.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2025-49144.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
None
C Python
None
C#
Proof of Concept (PoC) that exploits the CVE-2025-49144 vulnerability in the Notepad++ 8.8.1 installer.
Python
Discover the CVE-2025-49144 vulnerability in Notepad++ installers. This PoC highlights local privilege escalation risks. 🛠️🔍
Discover CVE-2025-49144, a local privilege escalation flaw in Notepad++ installers. Learn how attackers exploit this vulnerability. 🐙🔍
cve-2025-49144 cybersecurity-education kali-linux notepad-plus-plus windows
C
A test attack for CVE-2025-49144
CVE-2025-49144 * Notepad++ v8.8.1 * SYSTEM-level POC
CVE-2025-49144 PoC for security researchers to test and try.
cve-2025-49144 cybersecurity-education kali-linux notepad-plus-plus windows
C
PoC CVE-2025-49144
Go C
None
HTML Python Shell
Latest CVEs with their Proof of Concept exploits.
Python
TOP All bugbounty pentesting CVE-2023- POC Exp RCE example payload Things
bugbounty cve exp exploit payload poc rce vulnerability
Shell
📡 PoC auto collect from GitHub. ⚠️ Be careful Malware.
security cve exploit poc vulnerability
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2025-49144 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
-
Help Net Security
Week in review: Backdoor found in SOHO devices running Linux, high-risk WinRAR RCE flaw patched
Here’s an overview of some of last week’s most interesting news, articles, interviews and videos: Stealthy backdoor found hiding in SOHO devices running Linux SecurityScorecard’s STRIKE team has uncov ... Read more
-
TheCyberThrone
Cisco ISE Vulnerabilities June 2025
Skip to contentCisco has disclosed three major security vulnerabilities in its Identity Services Engine (ISE) and ISE-PIC platforms. Two of them are critical remote code execution (RCE) flaws that can ... Read more
-
TheCyberThrone
CISA Catalog Update-June 25, 2025
Skip to content🔍 Executive SummaryThe U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued an urgent update to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog, highlighting three ... Read more
-
TheCyberThrone
CVE-2025-49144 Privilege Escalation via Notepad++ Installer
Skip to content🛑 OverviewCVE-2025-49144 is a high-severity local privilege escalation vulnerability identified in Notepad++ versions 8.8.1 and earlier. The flaw stems from an insecure executable loadi ... Read more
-
Help Net Security
Flaw in Notepad++ installer could grant attackers SYSTEM access (CVE-2025-49144)
A high-severity vulnerability (CVE-2025-49144) in the Notepad++ installer could be exploited by unprivileged users to gain SYSTEM-level privileges through insecure executable search paths. There is cu ... Read more
-
Cyber Security News
Notepad++ Vulnerability Let Attacker Gains Complete System Control – PoC Released
A severe privilege escalation vulnerability has been discovered in Notepad++ version 8.8.1, potentially exposing millions of users worldwide to complete system compromise. The flaw, designated CVE-202 ... Read more
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2025-49144 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
-
New CVE Received by [email protected]
Jun. 23, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. In versions 8.8.1 and prior, a privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the Notepad++ v8.8.1 installer that allows unprivileged users to gain SYSTEM-level privileges through insecure executable search paths. An attacker could use social engineering or clickjacking to trick users into downloading both the legitimate installer and a malicious executable to the same directory (typically Downloads folder - which is known as Vulnerable directory). Upon running the installer, the attack executes automatically with SYSTEM privileges. This issue has been fixed and will be released in version 8.8.2. Added CVSS V3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Added CWE CWE-427 Added CWE CWE-272 Added CWE CWE-276 Added Reference https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11yeUSWgqHvt4Bz5jO3ilRRfcpQZ6Gvpn Added Reference https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/f2346ea00d5b4d907ed39d8726b38d77c8198f30 Added Reference https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-9vx8-v79m-6m24
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2025-49144 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2025-49144
weaknesses.