CVE-2026-25880: sumatrapdfreader sumatrapdf · Untrusted Search Path
Affects sumatrapdfreader sumatrapdfSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 10:12 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 12% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 9 Feb 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| sumatrapdfreadersumatrapdf | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
To mitigate CVE-2026-25880, European organizations should: 1) Immediately upgrade SumatraPDF to a version later than 3.5.2 once a patch is released. 2) Implement application whitelisting and restrict execution of binaries from user-writable directories to prevent malicious explorer.exe execution. 3) Educate users to avoid opening PDFs from untrusted sources and to be cautious when interacting with file menus in PDF readers. 4) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for suspicious process executions, especially unexpected explorer.exe launches from unusual directories. 5) Use network segmentation and least privilege principles to limit the impact of any compromised endpoint. 6) Regularly audit and monitor file system directories where users commonly download or store PDFs to detect presence of suspicious executables. 7) Enforce strict policies on software installation and updates to ensure timely patching of vulnerable applications.
Description
CVE-2026-25880 is a high-severity vulnerability in SumatraPDF versions 3.5.2 and earlier, involving an untrusted search path weakness (CWE-426). When a user opens a PDF and clicks File → “Show in folder”, the application executes a binary named explorer.exe located in the same directory as the PDF without proper validation. This allows an attacker to place a malicious executable in the PDF’s folder, leading to arbitrary code execution with the current user's privileges. Exploitation requires user interaction limited to clicking the menu option, with no additional warnings. The vulnerability affects Windows systems running vulnerable SumatraPDF versions. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild yet, the ease of exploitation and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability make this a significant threat. European organizations using SumatraPDF on Windows should prioritize patching or mitigating this issue to prevent potential compromise.