CVE-2026-50574 yt-dlp: Arbitrary code execution via manifest downloads with aria2c
Attackers can achieve arbitrary code execution by exploiting insufficient input sanitization when using aria2c for manifest downloads.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-50574?
CVE-2026-50574 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in yt-dlp, published on 23 Jun 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
yt-dlp is a command-line audio/video downloader. Prior to 2026.06.09, if aria2c is used as an external downloader for a fragmented manifest format (such as an HLS/DASH stream), yt-dlp passes insufficiently sanitized input to aria2c that allows an attacker to perform an arbitrary file write. On Windows platforms, this can lead to immediate arbitrary code execution. On non-Windows platforms, this can lead to arbitrary code execution upon the next invocation of yt-dlp. This vulnerability is fixed in 2026.06.09.
Weakness: CWE-74
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-50574?
3 open source packages ship an affected version, including yt-dlp. It affects 1 product.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
yt-dlp PyPI | All versions | 2026.6.9 |
yt-dlp PyPI | All versions | 2026.6.9 |
yt-dlp PyPI | All versions | 2026.6.9 |
Products include Yt-Dlp Project Yt-Dlp.
How do I fix CVE-2026-50574?
Upgrade yt-dlp to 2026.6.9 or later.
Upgrade, and pass arguments to programs as a list instead of through a shell. More about Command injection.
Is CVE-2026-50574 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-50574 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in yt-dlp
- CVE-2026-26331 yt-dlp: Arbitrary Command Injection when using the `--netrc-cmd` option
- CVE-2024-22423 yt-dlp `--exec` command injection when using `%q` in yt-dlp on Windows
- CVE-2023-40581 yt-dlp command injection when using `%q` in `--exec` on Windows
- CVE-2026-50023 yt-dlp: Dangerous file type creation via insufficient filename sanitization (Bypass of CVE-2024-38519)
- CVE-2026-55404 yt-dlp: Downstream command injection via improper sanitization of yt-dlp --write-link output
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2026-50574, GHSA-vx4q-3cr2-7cg2, PYSEC-2026-3433, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-50574.