Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:HSummary
CVE-2026-23512 is a high-severity Untrusted Search Path (CWE-426) vulnerability in Sumatrapdfreader Sumatrapdf. Its CVSS base score is 8.6 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Path Interception (T1034); ranked at the 9th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to CM-6 (Configuration Settings) and CM-7 (Least Functionality) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
CVE-2026-23512 is an Untrusted Search Path vulnerability (CWE-426) affecting SumatraPDF, a multi-format reader for Windows, in versions 3.5.2 and earlier. The issue arises when the Advanced Options setting is triggered, as the application executes notepad.exe without specifying an absolute path. On Windows, this permits a malicious notepad.exe placed in the application's installation directory to be run instead, resulting in arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.6 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).
A local attacker can exploit this vulnerability by placing a malicious notepad.exe in the SumatraPDF installation directory, requiring write access to that location. Exploitation occurs if a user with sufficient privileges triggers the Advanced Options setting, causing the application to execute the attacker's binary rather than the legitimate system notepad.exe. Successful exploitation leads to arbitrary code execution with high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, accompanied by a scope change.
Mitigation details are provided in the SumatraPDF GitHub security advisory (GHSA-rqg5-gj63-x4mv) and the patching commit (2762e02a8cd7cb779c934a44257aac56ab7de673). Security practitioners should recommend updating to a patched version of SumatraPDF beyond 3.5.2.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2026-2675
Vulnerability Data
SumatraPDF is a multi-format reader for Windows. In 3.5.2 and earlier, there is a Untrusted Search Path vulnerability when Advanced Options setting is trigger. The application executes notepad.exe without specifying an absolute path when using the Advanced Options setting. On…
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Windows, this allows execution of a malicious notepad.exe placed in the application's installation directory, leading to arbitrary code execution.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Secure baseline settings can enforce absolute, organization-controlled paths for critical resources.
Least-functionality configuration can prohibit unapproved directories or executables from being reachable via search paths.
Engineering principles such as trusted paths, complete mediation, and least privilege directly require hard-coded or validated search paths instead of external ones.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Preventing execution of unauthorized code directly blocks the malicious binaries that an untrusted search path would load.
Secure development practices include avoiding or sanitizing externally influenced search paths in application code.
Hardened configuration baselines can enforce safe search paths and restrict environment variables that enable the weakness.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Security testing can discover search-path issues but does not itself prevent them in production code.
Restricting software installation reduces the chance that untrusted binaries or libraries are placed in search paths.
Secure architecture principles include hard-coded or validated search paths and avoiding reliance on untrusted directories.
Secure coding standards require absolute paths or integrity-checked search paths, directly mitigating CWE-426.
Change-management processes can enforce review of path-handling changes, indirectly lowering risk.