CVE-2026-55404

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.

CVSS v3 7.5 HIGH

7.5^/10

CVSS v3 : HIGH

Vector :

Exploitability : 1.6 / Impact : 5.9

Attack Vector NETWORK

Attack Complexity HIGH

Privileges Required NONE

User Interaction REQUIRED

Confidentiality Impact HIGH

Integrity Impact HIGH

Availability Impact HIGH

Scope UNCHANGED

References

Link	Resource
https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/b6590aaa1e3808155d69c9a79a797ae484163789	Patch
https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/releases/tag/2026.07.04	Product Release Notes
https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/security/advisories/GHSA-6v4j-43gg-vj32	Mitigation Vendor Advisory

Configurations

Configuration 1 (hide)

cpe:2.3:a:yt-dlp_project:yt-dlp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

History

No history.

Information

Published : 2026-07-08 20:16

Updated : 2026-07-13 17:01

NVD link : CVE-2026-55404

Mitre link : CVE-2026-55404

CVE.ORG link : CVE-2026-55404

JSON object : View

Products Affected

yt-dlp_project

yt-dlp

CWE

CWE-74

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

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