CVE-2025-12121Public exploit

Arbitrary command execution via unsafe system.exec

Published Nov 20, 2025 · Updated Nov 20, 2025

OS command injection in Lite XL 2.1.8 and earlier allows local users to execute arbitrary commands through crafted file or directory names. system.exec wraps its string in cmd.exe on Windows or appends an ampersand before calling system on Unix, allowing shell metacharacters to be interpreted. Exploitation requires interaction with a crafted path through project launching, file drag-and-drop, or Open in System, and commands run with the editor process's privileges.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.36%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

OS command injection in Lite XL 2.1.8 and earlier allows local users to execute arbitrary commands through crafted file or directory names. system.exec wraps its string in cmd.exe on Windows or appends an ampersand before calling system on Unix, allowing shell metacharacters to be interpreted. Exploitation requires interaction with a crafted path through project launching, file drag-and-drop, or Open in System, and commands run with the editor process's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-12121
Published
Nov 20, 2025
Updated
Nov 20, 2025
Vendor
Lite XL
Product
Lite XL
Classifications
CWE-78, T1204.002, T1059
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

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

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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=2.1.8 and earlier

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

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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