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CVE-2026-55404

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

Published: Jul 8, 2026Updated: Jul 13, 2026 Sources: CVE List NVDCWE-74
7.5HIGH
NVD MITRE
EPSS Score
0.4%
Top 66.0%
CISA KEV
Not in KEV
Exploits
No Known Exploits
Remediation
Patch Available
Self-Check
OpenVAS

Description

yt-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.

No summary for this CVE yet.

CVSS Vector Breakdown

AV:NAC:HPR:NUI:RS:UC:HI:HA:H
Exploitability
AV:NAttack Vector
Network
AC:HAttack Complexity
High
PR:NPrivileges Required
None
UI:RUser Interaction
Required
Scope
S:UScope
Unchanged
Impact
C:HConfidentiality
High
I:HIntegrity
High
A:HAvailability
High
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Weaknesses

CWE-74

Affected Products

yt-dlp project
oss-projectaka yt-dlp
yt-dlpOn-prem
Consumer Software / file-utility
and 1 more affected products View all →

Exploitability

Official Patch Available
Workaround Available
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Attack Graph

Products CVE Techniques Tactics

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MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques
Execution
Initial Access
View detailed technique mapping

References

https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/security/advisories/GHSA-6v4j-43gg-vj32
github.com
https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/b6590aaa1e3808155d69c9a79a797ae484163789
github.com
https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/releases/tag/2026.07.04
github.com

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