CVE-2026-50023Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Code execution via unsafe shortcut extension allowlist

Published Jun 23, 2026 · Updated Jun 23, 2026

Filename sanitization in yt-dlp before 2026.06.09 allows remote attackers to write malicious OS shortcut files during downloads. The global extension allowlist treats .desktop, .url, and .webloc as safe, so attacker-controlled media or subtitle extension metadata reaches filesystem output unchanged. Exploitation requires a user to download an attacker-controlled URL with an affected media, subtitle, or thumbnail option and then open the disguised shortcut, which can execute commands or remote programs.

CVSS severity8.3
High
EPSS probability0.66%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Filename sanitization in yt-dlp before 2026.06.09 allows remote attackers to write malicious OS shortcut files during downloads. The global extension allowlist treats .desktop, .url, and .webloc as safe, so attacker-controlled media or subtitle extension metadata reaches filesystem output unchanged. Exploitation requires a user to download an attacker-controlled URL with an affected media, subtitle, or thumbnail option and then open the disguised shortcut, which can execute commands or remote programs.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-50023
Published
Jun 23, 2026
Updated
Jun 23, 2026
Vendor
yt-dlp
Product
yt-dlp
Classifications
CWE-641, T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 23, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jun 23, 2026Record 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=< 2026.06.09

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

yt-dlp · yt-dlpversion=< 2026.06.09

Published CVSS scores

9.6NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.3GitHub, Inc.CVSS: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-641Improper Restriction of Names for Files and Other Resources
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

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Your stack

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