Notepad++: Authenticode verification bypass allows modified updater execution (CVE-2026-85995) | HOL Guard CVE

High · CVSS 7.3CVE-2026-85995

Notepad++: Authenticode verification bypass allows modified updater execution

Answer in brief

CVE-2026-85995 records a High severity (CVSS 7.3) vulnerability in Notepad++: Authenticode verification bypass allows modified updater execution. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Analysis pending evidence review

HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.

Published Sep 22, 2026Updated Sep 22, 2026Source checked Sep 22, 2026First seen by HOL Sep 22, 2026Material review Sep 22, 2026

Upstream Advisory

Key facts

Risk: High · CVSS 7.3
Exploitation: Not marked as known exploited
Affected software: 1 mapped package or product
Fix availability: Available

Why this deserves its current priority

CVSS is 7.3. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.

Analysis status

Analysis pending evidence review

Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.

Affected scope and exposure questions

The current feed maps notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Mapped affected packages and fixed versions
Package	Affected range	Fixed version
notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plusgeneric	<8.9.8	8.9.8

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus.
Review the reported fix. Update notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus to 8.9.8 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
Sep 22, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Sep 22, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Sep 22, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Upstream source description

Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. From 8.9.7 until 8.9.8, the Notepad++ updater and signature verification path can accept a modified GUP.exe file whose embedded certificate metadata remains present even though its Authenticode digest is invalid. An attacker who can replace or plant the updater-related file can cause Notepad++ to launch attacker-modified code when a user triggers the updater path, but the issue does not provide remote code execution by itself. This issue is fixed in version 8.9.8.

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.