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Vulnerability record · CVE-2026-55404 · published 8 July 2026

CVE-2026-55404: Yt-dlp project yt-dlp injection vulnerability

Yt Dlp Project · Yt Dlp

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.

8.8 CVSS 3.1 High EPSS 0.64% · top 51.4% CWE-74 · Injection
8.8CVSS 3.1 base score
0.64%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
3References
13 Jul 2026Last modified by NVD

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.

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

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/b6590aaa1e3808155d69c9a79a797ae484163789 Patch
https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/releases/tag/2026.07.04 ProductRelease Notes
https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/security/advisories/GHSA-6v4j-43gg-vj32 MitigationVendor Advisory

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Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2026-55404), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-27). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.