Notepad++ 8.8.3 uncontrolled search path

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
6.8$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as problematic has been found in Notepad++ 8.8.3. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality. Executing a manipulation can lead to uncontrolled search path. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2025-56383. The attack needs to be launched locally. No exploit is available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Notepad++ 8.8.3. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects an unknown part. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a uncontrolled search path vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-427. The product uses a fixed or controlled search path to find resources, but one or more locations in that path can be under the control of unintended actors. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Notepad++ v8.8.3 has a DLL hijacking vulnerability, which can replace the original DLL file to execute malicious code. NOTE: this is disputed by multiple parties because the behavior only occurs when a user installs the product into a directory tree that allows write access by arbitrary unprivileged users.

The advisory is shared for download at github.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-56383 since 08/16/2025. The exploitation appears to be difficult. The attack needs to be approached locally. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 11/20/2025). The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1574.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2025-31376). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Name

Version

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.8

VulDB Base Score: 7.0
VulDB Temp Score: 6.8
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Uncontrolled search path
CWE: CWE-427 / CWE-426
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Timelineinfo

08/16/2025 CVE reserved
09/26/2025 +41 days Advisory disclosed
09/26/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
11/20/2025 +55 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: github.com
Status: Not defined

CVE: CVE-2025-56383 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-56383
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-326140
EUVD: 🔒

Entryinfo

Created: 09/26/2025 20:52
Updated: 11/20/2025 04:45
Changes: 09/26/2025 20:52 (52), 09/27/2025 18:58 (1), 11/20/2025 04:45 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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