Notepad++: Authenticode verification bypass allows modified updater execution
CVE-2026-85995 is fixed in Notepad++ on 1 platform by Notepad++ 8.9.8 (version 8.9.8), released August 23, 2026. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: High.
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.
Where it's fixed
| Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows apps | |||
| Notepad++ | 8.9.8 | Notepad++ 8.9.8 | Aug 23, 2026 |
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