// For flags

CVE-2025-54072

yt-dlp allows `--exec` command injection when using placeholder on Windows

Severity Score

7.5
*CVSS v3.1

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

Attend
*SSVC
Descriptions

yt-dlp is a feature-rich command-line audio/video downloader. In versions 2025.06.25 and below, when the --exec option is used on Windows with the default placeholder (or {}), insufficient sanitization is applied to the expanded filepath, allowing for remote code execution. This is a bypass of the mitigation for CVE-2024-22423 where the default placeholder and {} were not covered by the new escaping rules. Windows users who are unable to upgrade should avoid using --exec altogether. Instead, the --write-info-json or --dump-json options could be used, with an external script or command line consuming the JSON output. This is fixed in version 2025.07.21.

*Credits: N/A
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
High
Authentication
None
Confidentiality
Complete
Integrity
Complete
Availability
Complete
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:Attend
Exploitation
Poc
Automatable
No
Tech. Impact
Total
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2025-07-16 CVE Reserved
  • 2025-07-22 CVE Published
  • 2025-07-23 CVE Updated
  • 2025-07-28 EPSS Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
  • CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
CAPEC
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
---- -