Notepad++ 8.9.6.2 < 8.9.6.4 TOCTOU Race Condition (CVE-2026-52885)

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

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(324931);
  script_version("1.3");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2026/07/06");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2026-52885");
  script_xref(name:"IAVA", value:"2026-A-0635");

  script_name(english:"Notepad++ 8.9.6.2 < 8.9.6.4 TOCTOU Race Condition (CVE-2026-52885)");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"A text editor on the remote Windows host is affected by a TOCTOU race condition vulnerability.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The version of Notepad++ installed on the remote host is 8.9.6.2 or 8.9.6.3. It is, therefore,
affected by a TOCTOU race condition vulnerability:

  - A time-of-check time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition exists in the HMAC verification of
    shortcuts.xml. The HMAC check validates the on-disk file at execution time, but the command
    payload is loaded from memory at application startup. An attacker with write access to
    shortcuts.xml can swap in a malicious file before launch and restore the legitimate file
    before execution, bypassing the HMAC integrity check while the malicious payload runs from
    memory. (CVE-2026-52885)

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-qm4c-qg8p-qfcr
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?52c4a326");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"Upgrade to Notepad++ version 8.9.6.4 or later.");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:H/Au:S/C:N/I:C/A:C");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:POC/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:P/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss4_vector", value:"CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss4_threat_vector", value:"CVSS:4.0/E:P");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2026-52885");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2026/06/04");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2026/06/04");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2026/07/03");

  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) 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': [
        {'min_version': '8.9.6.2', 'fixed_version': '8.9.6.4'}
      ]
    }
  ]
};

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