---
id: CVE-2025-49144
title: >-
  Notepad++ Privilege Escalation in Installer via Uncontrolled Executable Search
  Path
summary: >-
  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 ins…
severity: high
cvss: 7.3
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-272
  - CWE-276
  - CWE-427
vendor: notepad-plus-plus
product: notepad-plus-plus
affected:
  - notepad-plus-plus < 8.8.2
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2025-07-01T03:55:56.996774Z'
exploitAvailable: true
published: '2025-06-23'
updated: '2026-11-03'
sourceUpdated: '2026-11-03T22:03:05.260Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-49144'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-9vx8-v79m-6m24
    label: >-
      https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-9vx8-v79m-6m24
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/f2346ea00d5b4d907ed39d8726b38d77c8198f30
    label: >-
      https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/f2346ea00d5b4d907ed39d8726b38d77c8198f30
  - url: 'https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11yeUSWgqHvt4Bz5jO3ilRRfcpQZ6Gvpn'
    label: 'https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11yeUSWgqHvt4Bz5jO3ilRRfcpQZ6Gvpn'
tags:
  - cve.org
  - exploit-available
epss: 0.00658
epssPercentile: 0.51607
exploits:
  github: 8
  githubRepos:
    - 'https://github.com/Vr00mm/CVE-2025-49144'
    - 'https://github.com/TheTorjanCaptain/CVE-2025-49144_PoC'
    - 'https://github.com/assad12341/notepad-v8.8.1-LPE-CVE-'
  checkedAt: '2026-11-05T20:33:42.471Z'
ingestedAt: '2026-11-05T20:33:06.564Z'
---

## Overview

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.

## Affected

- `notepad-plus-plus < 8.8.2`

## Remediation

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