CVE-2023-40581Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Remote command execution via improperly escaped metadata

Published Sep 25, 2023 · Updated Sep 24, 2024

Command injection in yt-dlp before 2023.09.24 allows remote attackers to execute commands through crafted video metadata on Windows. The %q conversion in --exec fails to neutralize command-shell metacharacters when expanding attacker-controlled metadata for Python subprocess execution. The affected feature begins in 2021.04.11 and requires a Windows user to run an affected --exec template, after which commands execute with that user's privileges.

CVSS severity8.3
High
EPSS probability1.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in yt-dlp before 2023.09.24 allows remote attackers to execute commands through crafted video metadata on Windows. The %q conversion in --exec fails to neutralize command-shell metacharacters when expanding attacker-controlled metadata for Python subprocess execution. The affected feature begins in 2021.04.11 and requires a Windows user to run an affected --exec template, after which commands execute with that user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-40581
Published
Sep 25, 2023
Updated
Sep 24, 2024
Vendor
yt-dlp
Product
yt-dlp
Classifications
CWE-78, T1059.003
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 25, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 24, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <nightly 2023.09.24.003044
  2. Affected versionversion=>= 2021.04.11, < 2023.09.24
  3. Affected versionversion=2021.04.11 <2023.09.24
  4. Affected versionversion=< nightly 2023.09.24.003044

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

yt-dlp · yt-dlpversion=0 <nightly 2023.09.24.003044; version=>= 2021.04.11, < 2023.09.24; version=2021.04.11 <2023.09.24; version=< nightly 2023.09.24.003044

Published CVSS scores

8.3GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1059.003Windows Command Shell

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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