CVE-2025-54072: yt-dlp_project yt-dlp OS Command Injection

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2025-54072 is a high (CVSS 8.1) OS Command Injection vulnerability in yt-dlp_project yt-dlp. EPSS estimates a 0.60% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 48.2% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 22-07-2025
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 23-07-2025
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

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.

• CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component.