# CVE-2025-12121: CVE-2025-12121

> Attackers can execute arbitrary commands via unsanitized input in Lite XL's system.exec function, potentially compromising the user's system.

- **Severity:** High 7.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 20 Nov 2025
- **Updated:** 20 Nov 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-w994-qmmq-w97w

## What is CVE-2025-12121?

CVE-2025-12121 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Lite XL, published on 20 Nov 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Lite XL versions 2.1.8 and prior contain a vulnerability in the system.exec function, which allowed arbitrary command execution through unsanitized shell command construction. This function was used in project directory launching (core.lua), drag-and-drop file handling (rootview.lua), and the “open in system” command in the treeview plugin (treeview.lua). If an attacker could influence input to system.exec, they might execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the Lite XL process.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-12121?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Lite-Xl Lite Xl.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-12121?

No fix has been published for CVE-2025-12121 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2025-12121 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-12121 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Lite XL

- [CVE-2025-12120](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-12120/): CVE-2025-12120 (high 7.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-12121 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-12121 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Lite XL, published on 20 Nov 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-12121 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Lite XL. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-12121/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-12121/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-12121
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-12121
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-12121

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-12121/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.