Vulnerability in yt-dlp (CVE-2026-55404)
Summary
Vulnerability in yt-dlp (CVE-2026-55404). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. Exploitable via webpage_url. Mitigation: upgrade to 2026.7.4 or later.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
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.
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database NVD GitHub Advisory
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2026-55404 has been found in yt-dlp.
Attackers can target a specific entry point like webpage_url over the network to misuse the product.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 7.5/10.
What to do: upgrade yt-dlp to 2026.7.4 or later.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "yt-dlp CVE-2026-55404" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2026-55404 (yt-dlp) — CWE-74 / CVSS v3 7.5
Attack vector: remote (network-reachable) / unauthenticated
Attack surface: webpage_url / Link / Directory / Application
Patched: 2026.7.4 — apply immediately
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
A vulnerability (CWE-74) exists in yt-dlp. Attackers reach the vulnerable code path via webpage_url without authentication.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of yt-dlp. Attack surface: webpage_url / Link / Directory / Application.
Severity: High (CVSS 7.5/10). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Update to 2026.7.4.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Run grep -r 'yt-dlp' . against your dependency files (package-lock.json, requirements.txt, go.sum) to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
-
1Identify exposure identify
grep -r 'yt-dlp' . | grep -v node_modulesリポジトリと本番環境の依存ファイル (package-lock.json / requirements.txt / go.sum / Gemfile.lock 等) で
yt-dlpを grep し、稼働しているサービス・バージョンを把握する。 -
2Apply patch patch
Upgrade yt-dlp to 2026.7.4ステージング環境で 2026.7.4 に上げて回帰テスト → 本番反映。回帰テストはアプリの主要ハッピーパスを含めること。
-
3Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
Affected packages
Fix status by distribution
Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2026-55404 yt-dlp
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2026-55404 youtube-dl
References
- advisory github.com
- advisory nvd.nist.gov
- advisory github.com
- advisory github.com
- package github.com
- package pypi.org
- patch github.com
- web github.com
- web github.com
- web github.com