CVE catalog
CVE-2026-50023
yt-dlp is a command-line audio/video downloader. Prior to 2026.06.09, a vulnerability exists in yt-dlp that allows a remote attacker to write arbitrary OS-shortcut files (such as .desktop, .url, .webl
- Severity
- Critical · CVSS 9.6
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H - Published
- Source
- [NVD] · [CVE record]
- EPSS
- 0.66% · Oct 25, 2026
yt-dlp is a command-line audio/video downloader. Prior to 2026.06.09, a vulnerability exists in yt-dlp that allows a remote attacker to write arbitrary OS-shortcut files (such as .desktop, .url, .webloc) to the user's filesystem, bypassing the remediation for CVE-2024-38519. The allowlist explicitly included the unsafe extensions .desktop, .url, and .webloc so that the functionality of the --write-link option (and its variants) could be preserved. These allowlist inclusions can be exploited by an attacker to write malicious OS-shortcut files in the context of a media or subtitles download. This vulnerability is fixed in 2026.06.09.
Vulnerable and fixed packages
Distribution-reported package versions and fixes. These do not depend on matching against the OpenFactory package catalog.
| Distribution | Package | Release | Version | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debian | yt-dlp | sid | 2026.10.21-1 | fixed |
| Debian | yt-dlp | forky | 2026.10.21-1 | fixed |
| Debian | yt-dlp | trixie | 2025.04.30-1 | vulnerable |
| Debian | yt-dlp | bookworm | 2023.03.04-1 | vulnerable |
| Cpe | yt-dlp | Not reported | Not reported | vulnerable |
| Cpe | yt-dlp | Not reported | 2026.06.09 | fixed |
| PyPI | yt-dlp | Not reported | 2026.6.9 | fixed |
Fixed-version evidence
| Distribution | Package | Type | Release | Fixed version | Urgency | Origin | Bugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debian | yt-dlp | source | sid | 2026.06.09-1 | not yet assigned | Not reported | Not reported |
| Debian | yt-dlp | source | forky | 2026.06.09-1 | not yet assigned | Not reported | Not reported |
| Debian | yt-dlp | source | trixie | (unfixed) | not yet assigned | Not reported | Not reported |
| Debian | yt-dlp | source | bookworm | (unfixed) | not yet assigned | Not reported | Not reported |
| Cpe | yt-dlp | cpe | Not reported | 2026.06.09 | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| PyPI | yt-dlp | PyPI | Not reported | 2026.6.9 | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
Notes
[trixie] yt-dlp: Minor issue [bookworm] yt-dlp: Minor issue; requires an attacker-supplied URL, --write-subs/--write-thumbnail and the user opening the written shortcut file
OpenFactory catalog packages
[Debian 12 (Bookworm)]
- [yt-dlp]Affected
Details (4)
2023.03.04-1· all · bookwormAffected
nvd · yt-dlp · debian · bookworm; nvd · yt-dlp · debian · 12
2023.03.04-1· all · bookwormAffected
nvd · yt-dlp · debian · bookworm; nvd · yt-dlp · debian · 12
2025.04.30-1~bpo12+1· all · bookworm-backportsAffected
nvd · yt-dlp · debian · bookworm; nvd · yt-dlp · debian · 12
2025.04.30-1~bpo12+1· all · bookworm-backportsAffected
nvd · yt-dlp · debian · bookworm; nvd · yt-dlp · debian · 12
[Debian 13 (Trixie)]
- [yt-dlp]Affected
Details (4)
2025.04.30-1· all · trixieAffected
nvd · yt-dlp · debian · 13
2025.04.30-1· all · trixieAffected
nvd · yt-dlp · debian · 13
2026.08.19-1~bpo13+1· all · trixie-backportsAffected
nvd · yt-dlp · debian · 13
2026.08.19-1~bpo13+1· all · trixie-backportsAffected
nvd · yt-dlp · debian · 13
Observed:
References
- [https://ftp.suse.com/pub/projects/security/csaf/opensuse-su-2026_11019-1.json]
- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-50023]
- [https://osv.dev/vulnerability/DEBIAN-CVE-2026-50023]
- [https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-c6mh-fpjc-4pr3]
- [https://osv.dev/vulnerability/PYSEC-2026-3430]
- [https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2026-50023]
- [https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-50023.json]
[Debian Security Tracker] · [FIRST EPSS] · [National Vulnerability Database (NVD)] · [OSV Package Vulnerability Database] · [Red Hat security advisories and VEX] · [SUSE security advisories and VEX]