CVE-2025-12120Public exploit

Arbitrary code execution via automatic project module loading

Published Nov 20, 2025 · Updated Nov 20, 2025

Code injection in Lite XL 2.1.8 and earlier allows attackers to execute arbitrary Lua code by inducing a user to open a project. core.load_project_module loads .lite_project.lua with loadfile and invokes the resulting function without a trust prompt, validation, or sandbox. A user must open the attacker-controlled project; the code then runs with the Lite XL process privileges and can access host-level Lua facilities.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.33%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Code injection in Lite XL 2.1.8 and earlier allows attackers to execute arbitrary Lua code by inducing a user to open a project. core.load_project_module loads .lite_project.lua with loadfile and invokes the resulting function without a trust prompt, validation, or sandbox. A user must open the attacker-controlled project; the code then runs with the Lite XL process privileges and can access host-level Lua facilities.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-12120
Published
Nov 20, 2025
Updated
Nov 20, 2025
Vendor
Lite XL
Product
Lite XL
Classifications
CWE-94, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 20, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 20, 2025Record 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=2.1.8 and earlier

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Lite XL · Lite XLversion=2.1.8 and earlier

Published CVSS scores

7.3CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

Public exploit references

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

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo