Community
    • Login

    Notepad++ v8.8.3 Release Candidate

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Announcements
    19 Posts 6 Posters 944 Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • PeterJonesP
      PeterJones @donho
      last edited by

      BTW, I should make https work, I know - it’s on my TODO list.

      Good idea. :-)

      Thank you! It deserves also in npp-user-manual.org - what do you think?

      Yes, makes sense. I am adding those instructions (cleaned up) to the Getting Started page.

      X509 Notepad++ Root Certificate will be published here:
      https://notepad-plus-plus.org/notepadroot.crt

      Let me know once it’s available at that URL, and I’ll push the new instructions to the Manual website.

      mkupperM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
      • mkupperM
        mkupper @PeterJones
        last edited by

        @PeterJones and others - Is the self-signed root cert going to be the permanent fix? It seems a lot of work being put into this by you and others.

        I have hoped that Notepad++ will soon get signed again via a normal CA.

        Related to that is will the https certificate for https://download.notepad-plus-plus.org/ will get renewed? It expired five years ago on Sat, 22 Feb 2020 19:46:00 GMT.

        PeterJonesP xomxX 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • PeterJonesP
          PeterJones @mkupper
          last edited by

          Related to that is will the https certificate for https://download.notepad-plus-plus.org/ will get renewed? It expired five years ago on Sat, 22 Feb 2020 19:46:00 GMT.

          Considering @donho said above, “BTW, I should make https work, I know - it’s on my TODO list.”, I can confidentally conclude that the goal is to get it renewed. ;-)

          Is the self-signed root cert going to be the permanent fix?

          My guess is that’s currently unknowable. It presumably depends on how long beaurocracy fights Don vs how much effort he is willing to expend.

          Given the number of complaints since v8.8.2, I think it’s worth the effort (at least, my tiny side of the effort) until such time as a different CA can be used: even if it’s only 1 version down the road (so a month later), saving that month of signed-installer posts will be worth it to me. :-)

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
          • xomxX
            xomx @mkupper
            last edited by

            @mkupper said in Notepad++ v8.8.3 Release Candidate:

            Is the self-signed root cert going to be the permanent fix?

            I hope not. In the long term, a public trusted CA cert is needed, such as the previously used DigiCert one.

            But using a self-signed certificate is much much better from the BFU’s (or the Don’s grand-mom ;-) ) POV.

            No one can expect that BFU will install Kleopatra (and create the needed OpenPGP key pair etc etc…!) to verify the N++ distributed sigs. But using the standard Windows Explorer and Certificate interface for checking of the N++ executable digital signature == ok, even if “unverifiable” for now:

            npp-v883-1-unverifiable.png

            it’s a halfway where to go (BTW I saw somewhere that some corporate takes an unsigned 3rd party app and signed it with their own MS Azure self-signed cert just for an internal re-distribution).

            IMO - even if the above (very good!) description, for adding the N++ own cert to the trusted root ones, is not for every BFU in general, it’s still much better than want from them to learn how the OpenPGP (and public/private key stuff) works.
            After N++ is in Trusted Root CA:

            npp-v883-2-npp-cert-trusted.png

            Now the N++ executables:

            • can be trusted (verified the origin, with some acceptable effort)
            • prevents unnoticed modifications (common disk storage corruptions but also malicious modifs):

            npp-v883-3-npp-execode-modified.png

            (Sidenote: I’d not overestimate the executables digital sign in the malware fighting - nowadays many sophisticated attacks use patching already loaded process in memory and so they do not touch the executable files on disk at all…)

            mkupperM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
            • donhoD
              donho @donho
              last edited by donho

              FYI, an error has been found in the certificates, so the root certificate and code signing certificate have been regenerated, and v8.8.3 RC binaries are signed again:
              http://download.notepad-plus-plus.org/repository/8.x/8.8.3.RC3/

              You can download both Notepad++ Root Certificate & Notepad++ Revocation list from the root of https://notepad-plus-plus.org.

              Graham NorrisG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • Graham NorrisG
                Graham Norris @donho
                last edited by

                @donho How does one remove the previous one? I can’t find the previous (bad) certificate in the certification manager. Oh, and the revocation link doesn’t work: no file.

                donhoD xomxX 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • donhoD
                  donho @Graham Norris
                  last edited by

                  @Graham-Norris said in Notepad++ v8.8.3 Release Candidate:

                  Oh, and the revocation link doesn’t work: no file.

                  Fixed now.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • xomxX
                    xomx @Graham Norris
                    last edited by

                    @Graham-Norris said in Notepad++ v8.8.3 Release Candidate:

                    I can’t find the previous (bad) certificate in the certification manager.

                    Maybe you used for the N++ cert “Store location” Local Machine instead of the Current User?

                    If so, try to launch “certlm.msc” MMC snap-in instead of the above mentioned “certmgr.msc”.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                    • donhoD
                      donho @donho
                      last edited by donho

                      The latest, and I believe the last update:
                      http://download.notepad-plus-plus.org/repository/8.x/8.8.3.RC4/

                      Very sorry about that. Some errors have been found in the certificate and I have had to regenerate the ROOT CA & the signing certificate.
                      Anyway, it seems all OK now, so I can promise you it’s the last one.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                      • mkupperM
                        mkupper @xomx
                        last edited by

                        @xomx Thank you. When I downloaded and installed the certificate from https://notepad-plus-plus.org/nppRoot.crt that the installer process popped up:

                        ---------------------------
                        Security Warning
                        ---------------------------
                        You are about to install a certificate from a certification authority (CA) claiming to represent:
                        
                        Notepad++
                        
                        Windows cannot validate that the certificate is actually from "Notepad++". You should confirm its origin by contacting "Notepad++". The following number will assist you in this process:
                        
                        Thumbprint (sha1): C4E7785B 6DD1DAF2 AEDE5C99 4BB3D495 AF7B45AB
                        
                        Warning:
                        
                        If you install this root certificate, Windows will automatically trust any certificate issued by this CA. Installing a certificate with an unconfirmed thumbprint is a security risk. If you click "Yes" you acknowledge this risk.
                        
                        Do you want to install this certificate?
                        
                        ---------------------------
                        Yes   No   
                        ---------------------------
                        

                        The thumbprint C4E7785B 6DD1DAF2 AEDE5C99 4BB3D495 AF7B45AB is not mentioned in the user manual. I tried Google for “C4E7785B 6DD1DAF2 AEDE5C99 4BB3D495 AF7B45AB” and then “C4E7785B6DD1DAF2AEDE5C994BB3D495AF7B45AB” but it was not found.

                        PeterJonesP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • Xuân-Thơ HOÀNGX
                          Xuân-Thơ HOÀNG
                          last edited by

                          I have no issue with v8.8.2

                          But with v8.8.3 (all RC), installed the cert. (checked in Local Machine & Current User), i have the issue (newly program detected) by Trend Apex One (my company).

                          Thanks for your support, Notepad++ is my favorite editor. I’m currenty using portable edition.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • PeterJonesP
                            PeterJones @mkupper
                            last edited by

                            @mkupper said in Notepad++ v8.8.3 Release Candidate:

                            The thumbprint C4E7785B 6DD1DAF2 AEDE5C99 4BB3D495 AF7B45AB is not mentioned

                            @donho , did you want to add the links to the Root CA and CRL files on https://notepad-plus-plus.org/resources/ , along with the thumbprints for the Root CA and the current signing certificate you are using?

                            Since you have the GPG there, it makes sense to also share the details of the new CA and signing certs there as well.

                            I could then have the Manual link to that page for people to confirm the thumbprints for the certs.

                            donhoD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • donhoD
                              donho @PeterJones
                              last edited by

                              @PeterJones said in Notepad++ v8.8.3 Release Candidate:

                              @donho , did you want to add the links to the Root CA and CRL files on https://notepad-plus-plus.org/resources/ , along with the thumbprints for the Root CA and the current signing certificate you are using?

                              The paths of revocation list (crl) and root certificate are indicated in the Notepad++ code signing certificate (you can find them in the section “Details”):

                              CRL Distribution Point:

                              [1]CRL Distribution Point
                                   Distribution Point Name:
                                        Full Name:
                                             URL=http://notepad-plus-plus.org/nppRevoke.crl
                              

                              Authority Information Access:

                              [1]Authority Info Access
                                   Access Method=Certification Authority Issuer (1.3.6.1.5.5.7.48.2)
                                   Alternative Name:
                                        URL=http://notepad-plus-plus.org/nppRoot.crt
                              

                              So, firstly if we want to move these 2 files to resources directory, this code signing certificate should be revoked, then a new certificate can be regenerated with 2 modified paths. the RC should be signed again and RC5 should be checked again by the community…

                              Secondly, since such information is imposed by the certificate, for me
                              URL=http://notepad-plus-plus.org/nppRoot.crt
                              looks more serious then
                              URL=http://notepad-plus-plus.org/resources/nppRoot.crt,
                              and they are more accessible for the antivirus vendors, IT ppl & users (just under the root - shorter and simpler).

                              For the above reasons, let’s keep it as it is. If it’s really bothering, we can always change in 3 years.

                              PeterJonesP xomxX 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • PeterJonesP
                                PeterJones @donho
                                last edited by PeterJones

                                @donho ,

                                Sorry, I think I didn’t communicate clearly enough. I meant add a paragraph/section to the page at https://notepad-plus-plus.org/resources/ , which will link to the files which can stay at https://notepad-plus-plus.org/nppRoot.crt and https://notepad-plus-plus.org/resources/nppRoot.crt , and give details about those files, just like you do for the “Release Key”. Something like:

                                a5581676-3a46-4119-b5ed-3669e2b22ca1-image.png

                                You don’t have to use exactly that phrasing – I just mocked it up similar to what you had in the earlier section on that page.

                                <h2>Self-Signed Root Certificate Authority & Signing Key</h2>
                                <p>Notepad++ currently uses its own Root Certificate Authority (CA) for creating signing keys.
                                </p>
                                <ul>
                                    <li>URL = <a href="https://http://notepad-plus-plus.org/nppRoot.crt">https://http://notepad-plus-plus.org/nppRoot.crt</a></li>
                                    <li>Issued to: Notepad++</li>
                                    <li>Issued by: Notepad++</li>
                                    <li>Valid from 7/7/2025 to 7/7/2055</li>
                                    <li>Thumbprint = <tt>c4e7785b6dd1daf2aede5c994bb3d495af7b45ab</tt></li>
                                    <li>Revocation List = <a href="https://notepad-plus-plus.org/nppRevoke.crl">https://notepad-plus-plus.org/nppRevoke.crl</a></li>
                                    <li>Instructions = See the <a href="https://npp-user-manual.org/docs/getting-started/#notepad-self-signed-certificate-authority-for-binaries">User Manual: Getting Started: Self-Signed Certificate Authority</a></li>
                                </ul>
                                <p>The current signing certificate has the following details:</p>
                                <ul>
                                    <li>Issued to: Notepad++</li>
                                    <li>Issued by: Notepad++</li>
                                    <li>Valid from 7/7/2025 to 7/7/2028</li>
                                    <li>Thumbprint = <tt>1c20840863e00c00bcdc30362121693e54966a28</tt></li>
                                </ul>
                                

                                This information will allow people to verify that they have correctly downloaded the right Root Certificate Authority, similar to the way you let them verify the GPG signature.

                                To sum up: I wasn’t asking you to change the URL of the certs or to re-issue them. I was asking you to publish the data about them on the main website, similar to the way you publish the data about the GPG signature on the main website.

                                donhoD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                • donhoD
                                  donho @PeterJones
                                  last edited by

                                  @PeterJones said in Notepad++ v8.8.3 Release Candidate:

                                  You don’t have to use exactly that phrasing – I just mocked it up similar to what you had in the earlier section on that page.

                                  Yes, you’re right - I forgot the part of resources!
                                  I will add the information into this page, so it will be available during the release process.
                                  Thank you for the reminding!

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                  • xomxX
                                    xomx @donho
                                    last edited by xomx

                                    @donho said in Notepad++ v8.8.3 Release Candidate:

                                    URL=http://notepad-plus-plus.org/nppRevoke.crl

                                    URL=http://notepad-plus-plus.org/nppRoot.crt

                                    Maybe I’m a little bit lost in all that RC versions, but now I dl again the RC4 ones x64 installer and it’s signed like the above statements, which is just wrong, isn’t it? (should be with https instead):

                                    npp-cert-http(s).png

                                    Edit: Seems like MS own signed executables have the same http-only.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                    • First post
                                      Last post
                                    The Community of users of the Notepad++ text editor.
                                    Powered by NodeBB | Contributors