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.
Exploitability
AV:NAC:HPR:NUI:RScope
S:UImpact
C:HI:HA:H7.5/CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HInput Validation