Notepad++ up to 8.5.6 detectLanguageFromTextBegining buffer overflow
| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 5.3 | $0-$5k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Notepad++ up to 8.5.6. This affects the function FileManager::detectLanguageFromTextBegining. The manipulation results in buffer overflow.
This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2023-40166. The attack requires a local approach. No exploit exists.
It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.
Details
A vulnerability was found in Notepad++ up to 8.5.6 (Document Reader Software). It has been classified as critical. Affected is the function FileManager::detectLanguageFromTextBegining. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a buffer overflow vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-120. The product copies an input buffer to an output buffer without verifying that the size of the input buffer is less than the size of the output buffer, leading to a buffer overflow. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:
Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. Versions 8.5.6 and prior are vulnerable to heap buffer read overflow in `FileManager::detectLanguageFromTextBegining `. The exploitability of this issue is not clear. Potentially, it may be used to leak internal memory allocation information. As of time of publication, no known patches are available in existing versions of Notepad++.
The weakness was disclosed 08/26/2023 as GHSL-2023-092. The advisory is shared for download at securitylab.github.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2023-40166 since 08/09/2023. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.
Upgrading to version 8.5.7 eliminates this vulnerability.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Product
Type
Name
Version
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔍VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.4VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.3
VulDB Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Temp Score: 5.1
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CNA Base Score: 5.5
CNA Vector (GitHub, Inc.): 🔍
CVSSv2
| AV | AC | Au | C | I | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| Vector | Complexity | Authentication | Confidentiality | Integrity | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Buffer overflowCWE: CWE-120 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍
Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially
Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined
EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍
| 0-Day | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Upgrade: Notepad++ 8.5.7
Timeline
08/09/2023 🔍08/26/2023 🔍
08/26/2023 🔍
02/03/2026 🔍
Sources
Advisory: GHSL-2023-092Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-2023-40166 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-40166
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-238092
Entry
Created: 08/26/2023 13:35Updated: 02/03/2026 16:17
Changes: 08/26/2023 13:35 (51), 02/03/2026 16:14 (2), 02/03/2026 16:17 (19)
Complete: 🔍
Committer: lywand
Cache ID: 216::103
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
No comments yet. Languages: en.
Please log in to comment.