# CVE-2026-48800: Notepad++ OS command injection in UserDefinedCommands

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-48800-notepad-os-command-injection-in-userdefinedcommands  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-06-26. Updated: 2026-06-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-48800 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-06-26

Notepad++ is a popular open-source text and code editor. A vulnerability in how the application handles user-defined commands allows an attacker to inject malicious commands into the program's 'Run' menu by modifying a configuration file. If a user is tricked into clicking the malicious menu item, the attacker can execute arbitrary code on the system, potentially leading to full system compromise or persistent access.

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-48800 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-48800 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-48800?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 26 June 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Notepad++ Notepad++ < 8.9.6.1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-48800?** A patch was published on 2026-05-26: Fix committed to repository Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-48800 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-48800?** Check whether anything you run is named in the advisory. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

An OS command injection vulnerability exists in Notepad++ prior to version 8.9.6.1. The application reads the <Command> tag within <UserDefinedCommands> from the shortcuts.xml file using NppXml::value() and stores it in UserCommand._cmd without validation. When a user selects the corresponding entry in the 'Run' menu, the application calls ShellExecute with the attacker-controlled string. Attackers can exploit this by directly writing to the configuration file in the user's APPDATA directory or by using the -settingsDir command-line argument to point to a malicious directory. This can be used as a persistence mechanism, as the injected command appears as a legitimate menu item. The issue is fixed in version 8.9.6.1 by adding user confirmation dialogs.

## Affected products

- Notepad++ Notepad++ < 8.9.6.1

## Timeline

- 2026-05-26: patched: Fix committed to repository
- 2026-05-27: advisory: GitHub Security Advisory published
- 2026-06-26: disclosed: CVE published to NVD

## References

- [https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/6b3dc52a9245c6d8c6287a8d6d93a30981c05feb](https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/6b3dc52a9245c6d8c6287a8d6d93a30981c05feb)
- [https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-3x3f-3j39-pj3v](https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-3x3f-3j39-pj3v)