CVE-2026-85279
Notepad++: Stack Buffer Overflow in Plugin Lexer Loading via Unchecked GetLexerCount() Return Value
Description
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.
INFO
Published Date :
Sept. 22, 2026, 6:17 p.m.
Last Modified :
Sept. 22, 2026, 7:16 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
[email protected]
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS | 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 | |||||
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH | MITRE-CVE | ||||
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH | [email protected] |
Solution
- Update Notepad++ to version 8.9.8.
- Ensure plugins are trusted and updated.
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-2026-85279.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-85279 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-2026-85279
weaknesses.
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).
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-85279 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-85279 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.
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CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Sep. 22, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-h2wq-6x75-h8q2 Added SSVC {'id': 'CVE-2026-85279', 'role': 'CISA Coordinator', 'options': [{'exploitation': 'poc'}, {'automatable': 'no'}, {'technicalImpact': 'total'}], 'version': '2.0.3', 'timestamp': '2026-09-22T18:26:50.811152Z'} -
New CVE Received by [email protected]
Sep. 22, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description 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. Added CVSS V3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H Added CWE CWE-121 Added Affected New affected value received. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/85xxx/CVE-2026-85279.json">CVE-2026-85279</a> Added Reference https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/70b88f95311d88523cde6be1b1ec938aa48c24bc Added Reference https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/f1e1c71b090d69ca0f0175ab73895da41db67a16 Added Reference https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/releases/tag/v8.9.8 Added Reference https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-h2wq-6x75-h8q2 Added Reference https://notepad-plus-plus.org/news/v898-released