Notepad++ < 8.8.2 Privilege Escalation (CVE-2025-49144)

#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80900
##
# (C) Tenable, Inc.
##

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(240630);
  script_version("1.7");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2026/02/24");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2025-49144");
  script_xref(name:"IAVA", value:"2025-A-0452-S");

  script_name(english:"Notepad++ < 8.8.2 Privilege Escalation (CVE-2025-49144)");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"A text editor on the remote Windows host is affected by privilege escalation.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The version of Notepad++ installed on the remote host is prior to 8.8.2. It is, therefore, affected by a privilege
escalation vulnerability:

  - Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. In versions 8.8.1 and prior, a privilege escalation
    vulnerability exists in the Notepad++ v8.8.1 installer that allows unprivileged users to gain SYSTEM-level
    privileges through insecure executable search paths. An attacker could use social engineering or clickjacking to
    trick users into downloading both the legitimate installer and a malicious executable to the same directory
    (typically Downloads folder - which is known as Vulnerable directory). Upon running the installer, the attack
    executes automatically with SYSTEM privileges. This issue has been fixed and will be released in version 8.8.2.
    (CVE-2025-49144)
  
Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version
number.");
  # https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/security/advisories/GHSA-9vx8-v79m-6m24
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?2e152233");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://cybersecuritynews.com/notepad-vulnerability/");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"Upgrade to Notepad++ 8.8.2 or later.");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2025-49144");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2025/06/21");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2025/06/30");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2025/06/26");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:notepad-plus-plus:notepad\+\+");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"stig_severity", value:"I");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"thorough_tests", value:"true");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Windows");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2025-2026 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("notepad_plus_plus_win_installed.nbin");
  script_require_keys("installed_sw/Notepad++", "SMB/Registry/Enumerated");

  exit(0);
}

include('vdf.inc');

# @tvdl-content
var vuln_data = {
  'metadata': {'spec_version': '1.0'},
  'requires': [
    {'scope': 'target', 'match': {'os': 'windows'}}
  ],
  'checks': [
    {
      'product': {'name': 'Notepad++', 'type': 'app'},
      'check_algorithm': 'default',
      'constraints': [
        {'fixed_version': '8.8.2'}
      ]
    }
  ]
};

var result = vdf::check_and_report(vuln_data:vuln_data, severity:SECURITY_WARNING);
vdf::handle_check_and_report_errors(vdf_result:result);