Flashpoint’s threat intelligence team has published new analysis on a significant supply‑chain attack involving Notepad++, one of the world’s most widely used open‑source text editors. The compromise—quietly active for roughly six months—allowed threat actors to hijack the application’s update mechanism and deliver malicious executables to targeted users.
Flashpoint’s research breaks down how attackers gained unauthorized access to the hosting infrastructure supporting Notepad++ updates and selectively redirected update requests to attacker‑controlled servers. Instead of receiving legitimate installers, victims were served malicious payloads disguised as trusted updates. The attack did not exploit a vulnerability in Notepad++ code itself; it was an infrastructure‑level compromise that evaded detection for months.
Flashpoint’s analysis highlights several critical findings:
- The compromise persisted from June through December 2025, affecting users who attempted to update during that window.
- Attackers hijacked the update delivery pipeline, redirecting traffic from the legitimate Notepad++ server to malicious infrastructure.
- The attack targeted select victims, suggesting a focused espionage or intelligence‑gathering operation rather than broad malware distribution.
- The WinGUp updater lacked sufficient verification controls, enabling the delivery of malicious executables without triggering integrity checks.
- No CVE was assigned, underscoring that the weakness was not in the application code but in the surrounding ecosystem.
This incident is a stark reminder that supply‑chain attacks increasingly target the infrastructure around trusted tools – not just their source code. With Notepad++ used globally by developers, IT teams, and enterprises, the attack demonstrates how a single compromised update path can create widespread risk. Flashpoint’s analysis provides rare visibility into the mechanics of the attack and offers actionable guidance for organizations to assess exposure and strengthen their software update pipelines.
You can get more details here: What to Know About the Notepad++ Supply-Chain Attack | Flashpoint
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This entry was posted on February 27, 2026 at 11:16 am and is filed under Commentary with tags Flashpoint. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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Flashpoint Analysis: Six‑Month Supply‑Chain Attack Targeting Notepad++ Users
Flashpoint’s threat intelligence team has published new analysis on a significant supply‑chain attack involving Notepad++, one of the world’s most widely used open‑source text editors. The compromise—quietly active for roughly six months—allowed threat actors to hijack the application’s update mechanism and deliver malicious executables to targeted users.
Flashpoint’s research breaks down how attackers gained unauthorized access to the hosting infrastructure supporting Notepad++ updates and selectively redirected update requests to attacker‑controlled servers. Instead of receiving legitimate installers, victims were served malicious payloads disguised as trusted updates. The attack did not exploit a vulnerability in Notepad++ code itself; it was an infrastructure‑level compromise that evaded detection for months.
Flashpoint’s analysis highlights several critical findings:
This incident is a stark reminder that supply‑chain attacks increasingly target the infrastructure around trusted tools – not just their source code. With Notepad++ used globally by developers, IT teams, and enterprises, the attack demonstrates how a single compromised update path can create widespread risk. Flashpoint’s analysis provides rare visibility into the mechanics of the attack and offers actionable guidance for organizations to assess exposure and strengthen their software update pipelines.
You can get more details here: What to Know About the Notepad++ Supply-Chain Attack | Flashpoint
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This entry was posted on February 27, 2026 at 11:16 am and is filed under Commentary with tags Flashpoint. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.