yt-dlp: Arbitrary code execution via manifest downloads with aria2c
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and GitHub.
Summary
yt-dlp is a command-line audio/video downloader. Prior to 2026.06.09, if aria2c is used as an external downloader for a fragmented manifest format (such as an HLS/DASH stream), yt-dlp passes insufficiently sanitized input to aria2c that allows an attacker to perform an arbitrary file write. On Windows platforms, this can lead to immediate arbitrary code execution. On non-Windows platforms, this can lead to arbitrary code execution upon the next invocation of yt-dlp. This vulnerability is fixed in 2026.06.09.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yt-dlp | yt-dlp | before 2026.06.09 | 2026.06.09 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | yt-dlp (PyPI) | before 2026.6.9 | 2026.6.9 | Patch available | GHSA-vx4q-3cr2-7cg2 |
- yt-dlp Vendoryt-dlp Affected before 2026.06.09 Fixed in 2026.06.09 Patch available CNA
- yt-dlp (PyPI) Vendor— Affected before 2026.6.9 Fixed in 2026.6.9 Patch available GHSA-vx4q-3cr2-7cg2
Remediation
- Fix · CNA yt-dlp (yt-dlp) Fixed in 2026.06.09
- Fix · GHSA-vx4q-3cr2-7cg2 yt-dlp (PyPI) Fixed in 2026.6.9 Advisory →
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-50574
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-vx4q-3cr2-7cg2
References
Advisory 2
Other 6
- https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/25056f0d2d47adbd235a8d422fa62d68d0be2bc2
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/yt-dlp/PYSEC-2026-3433.yaml
- https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp
- https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp-nightly-builds/releases/tag/2026.06.09.230517
- https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/releases/tag/2026.06.09
- https://pypi.org/project/yt-dlp
More Yt-dlp vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-03325 Command injection vulnerability in programing languages on Microsoft Windows operating system. CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-36849 yt-dlp: Dangerous file type creation via insufficient filename sanitization (Bypass of CVE-2024-38519) CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.6
- TI-2025-33915 yt-dlp allows `--exec` command injection when using placeholder on Windows CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
- TI-2024-14996 yt-dlp `--exec` command injection when using `%q` in yt-dlp on Windows CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-21287 yt-dlp: Arbitrary Command Injection when using the `--netrc-cmd` option CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-39974 yt-dlp: Downstream command injection via improper sanitization of yt-dlp --write-link output CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2026-50574 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-50574 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-vx4q-3cr2-7cg2 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-50574 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences