CVE-2024-38519Public exploit

Arbitrary file writes via unchecked download extensions

Published Jul 2, 2024 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Improper file-extension validation in yt-dlp before 2024.07.01 and youtube-dl allows attackers to write arbitrary files via a crafted download. Subtitle and media metadata extensions are trusted when output filenames are built, so crafted values can select dangerous filenames or traverse directories on Windows. A user must download attacker-controlled content; a planted working-directory configuration or executable can then run code on a later invocation.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.33%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper file-extension validation in yt-dlp before 2024.07.01 and youtube-dl allows attackers to write arbitrary files via a crafted download. Subtitle and media metadata extensions are trusted when output filenames are built, so crafted values can select dangerous filenames or traverse directories on Windows. A user must download attacker-controlled content; a planted working-directory configuration or executable can then run code on a later invocation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-38519
Published
Jul 2, 2024
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
yt-dlp
Product
yt-dlp
Classifications
CWE-434, CWE-669, T1204.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 2, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <2024.07.01
  2. Affected versionversion=< 2024.07.01 <2024.07.01

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

yt-dlp · yt-dlpversion=0 <2024.07.01; version=< 2024.07.01 <2024.07.01
ytdl-org · youtube-dlversion=>= 2015.01.25 <=2021.12.17; version=nightly <2024-07-03 changes=[{"at":"d42a222","status":"unaffected"}]

Published CVSS scores

7.8GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-434Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
CWE-669Incorrect Resource Transfer Between Spheres
T1204.001Malicious Link

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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