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.
Published: 2026-07-08
Score: 7.5 High
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

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Remediation

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Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Yt-dlp
Yt-dlp yt-dlp
Vendors & Products Yt-dlp
Yt-dlp yt-dlp

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
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.
Title yt-dlp: Downstream command injection via improper sanitization of yt-dlp --write-link output
Weaknesses CWE-74
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published:

Updated: 2026-07-08T19:36:48.792Z

Reserved: 2026-06-16T21:48:43.124Z

Link: CVE-2026-55404

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

No data.

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-07-08T20:30:04Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-74

    Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')