yt-dlp: Downstream command injection via improper sanitization of yt-dlp --write-link output

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Summary

CVECVE-2026-55404
StatePUBLISHED
AssignerGitHub_M
Source PriorityCVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback
Published2026-07-08 20:16:52 UTC
Updated2026-07-08 20:16:52 UTC
Descriptionyt-dlp and youtube-dl are command-line audio/video downloaders. Prior to 2026.7.4, the --write-link, --write-url-link, and --write-desktop-link options can write .url or .desktop shortcut files using attacker-controlled webpage_url or filename metadata without sufficient validation or escaping, allowing malicious file:// URI injection on Windows or newline-based desktop entry key injection on Linux that can execute commands if the generated shortcut is opened. This issue is fixed in version 2026.7.4.

Risk And Classification

Primary CVSS: v3.1 7.5 HIGH from [email protected]

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Problem Types: CWE-74 | CWE-74 CWE-74: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')

VersionSourceTypeScoreSeverityVector
3.1[email protected]Secondary7.5HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
3.1CNADECLARED7.5HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS v3.1 Breakdown

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Vendor Declared Affected Products

SourceVendorProductVersionPlatforms
CNA Yt-dlp Yt-dlp affected < 2026.7.4 Not specified

References

ReferenceSourceLinkTags
github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/releases/tag/2026.07.04 [email protected] github.com
github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/b6590aaa1e3808155d69c9a79a797ae484163789 [email protected] github.com
github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/security/advisories/GHSA-6v4j-43gg-vj32 [email protected] github.com
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