CVE-2026-55404: yt-dlp and youtube-dl are command-line audio/video downloaders. Prior to 2026.7.4, the --write-link, --write-url-link, and --write-desktop-link options can write .url or .desktop s

highCVSS 7.5CVE-2026-55404

yt-dlp and youtube-dl are command-line audio/video downloaders. Prior to 2026.7.4, the --write-link, --write-url-link, and --write-desktop-link options can write .url or .desktop shortcut files using attacker-controlled webpage_url or filename metadata without sufficient validation or escaping, allowing malicious file:// URI injection on Windows or newline-based desktop entry key injection on Linux that can execute commands if the generated shortcut is opened. This issue is fixed in version 2026.7.4.

Details

Source: NVD Recent CVEs (US · database · site)
Severity: high — CVSS 7.5
Published: 2026-07-08
Last updated: 2026-07-10
Exploitation: Not in CISA KEV at last sync

Original advisory: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-55404

Exploitation outlook

EPSS (FIRST.org) estimates each CVE’s probability of exploitation in the next 30 days — here is the CSIRTS.com read on those numbers.

Low exploitation riskCVE-2026-554040.55% 30-day exploitation probability — currently an unlikely target, but scores change as exploit code circulates. Riskier than 42% of all scored CVEs.

Referenced CVEs

CVE	CSIRTS overview	External
CVE-2026-55404	coverage & exploitation status	NVD · CVE.org

CVE-2026-55404: yt-dlp and youtube-dl are command-line audio/video downloaders. Prior to 2026.7.4, the --write-link, --write-url-link, and --write-desktop-link options can write .url or .desktop s

Details

Exploitation outlook

Referenced CVEs

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