CVE-2025-49144
Notepad++ Privilege Escalation in Installer via Uncontrolled Executable Search Path
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.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- Required
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
7.3
Notepad++ Privilege Escalation in Installer via Uncontrolled Executable Search Path
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.
- Record
CVE-2025-49144- CVSS 3.1
- 7.3 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-272, CWE-276, CWE-427
- Updated
- 2026-11-03
EUVDEUVD-2025-19601
7.3
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.
- Record
EUVD-2025-19601- CVSS 3.1
- 7.3 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-03
NVD
7.3
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.
- Record
CVE-2025-49144- CVSS 3.1
- 7.3 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-272, CWE-276, CWE-427
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
7.3
Notepad++ Privilege Escalation in Installer via Uncontrolled Executable Search Path
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.
- Record
CVE-2025-49144- CVSS 3.1
- 7.3 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-272, CWE-276, CWE-427
- Updated
- 2026-11-04
Affected products
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| PoC in GitHub | Vr00mm/CVE-2025-49144 | 2025-06-24 |
| PoC in GitHub | TheTorjanCaptain/CVE-2025-49144_PoC | 2025-06-25 |
| PoC in GitHub | assad12341/notepad-v8.8.1-LPE-CVE- | 2025-06-26 |
| PoC in GitHub | b0ySie7e/Notepad-8.8.1_CVE-2025-49144 | 2025-06-29 |
| PoC in GitHub | GiZcesi/HJregsvr32 | 2025-07-02 |
| PoC in GitHub | timsonner/CVE-2025-49144-Research | 2025-07-02 |
| PoC in GitHub | onniio/CVE-2025-49144 | 2025-09-17 |
| PoC in GitHub | havertz2110/CVE-2025-49144-PoC | 2025-11-04 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| exploits, facts | CVE List, EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2025-49144 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.3) in Notepad-plus-plus, published June 23, 2025. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.66%, the 51st percentile. No source names a fixed version.
References
github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-9vx8-v79m-6m24
github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/f2346ea00d5b4d907ed39d8726b38d77c8198f30
drive.google.com/drive/folders/11yeUSWgqHvt4Bz5jO3ilRRfcpQZ6Gvpn
vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2025-49144-detect-notepad-vulnerability
vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2025-49144-mitigate-notepad-vulnerability
vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2025-49144-detect-notepad-vulnerability-1
vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2025-49144-mitigate-notepad-vulnerability-1
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2025/49xxx/CVE-2025-49144.json
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-49144