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CVE-2026-55404

Status: AnalyzedHigh (8.8)—

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

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

🎯 ATT&CK techniques

How this vulnerability is exploited and what the attacker gains, in MITRE ATT&CK terms.

Inferred by deterministic rules from the CVSS vector and CWE. Indicative only.

🛡️ ATT&CK mitigations that cover these techniques

Application Isolation and SandboxingExploit ProtectionUpdate Software

Affected technologies (1)

Yt-dlp Project — Yt-dlp

CWEs

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

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{
  "id": "CVE-2026-55404",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "ssvcV203": [
      {
        "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
        "ssvcData": {
          "id": "CVE-2026-55404",
          "role": "CISA Coordinator",
          "options": [
            {
              "exploitation": "none"
            },
            {
              "automatable": "no"
            },
            {
              "technicalImpact": "total"
            }
          ],
          "version": "2.0.3",
          "timestamp": "2026-07-09T14:31:16.287811Z"
        }
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    "cvssMetricV31": [
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        "cvssData": {
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          "attackVector": "NETWORK",
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          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
          "attackComplexity": "HIGH",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"
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      },
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
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        "exploitabilityScore": 2.8
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  "affected": [
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      "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
      "affectedData": [
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          "vendor": "yt-dlp",
          "product": "yt-dlp",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "< 2026.7.4"
            }
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        }
      ]
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  ],
  "published": "2026-07-08T20:16:52.987",
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/b6590aaa1e3808155d69c9a79a797ae484163789",
      "tags": [
        "Patch"
      ],
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/releases/tag/2026.07.04",
      "tags": [
        "Product",
        "Release Notes"
      ],
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/security/advisories/GHSA-6v4j-43gg-vj32",
      "tags": [
        "Mitigation",
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com"
    }
  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Analyzed",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Secondary",
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-74"
        }
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    }
  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "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."
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-07-13T17:01:13.303",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:yt-dlp_project:yt-dlp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "FF9BF655-88FE-4E74-A3B8-2CD2582D3B24",
              "versionEndExcluding": "2026.07.04"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "security-advisories@github.com"
}