yt-dlp is a command-line audio/video downloader. Starting in version 2023.06.21 and prior to version 2026.02.21, when yt-dlp's `--netrc-cmd` command-line option (or `netrc_cmd` Python API parameter) is used, an attacker could achieve arbitrary command injection on the user's system with a maliciously crafted URL. yt-dlp maintainers assume the impact of this vulnerability to be high for anyone who uses `--netrc-cmd` in their command/configuration or `netrc_cmd` in their Python scripts. Even though the maliciously crafted URL itself will look very suspicious to many users, it would be trivial for a maliciously crafted webpage with an inconspicuous URL to covertly exploit this vulnerability via HTTP redirect. Users without `--netrc-cmd` in their arguments or `netrc_cmd` in their scripts are unaffected. No evidence has been found of this exploit being used in the wild. yt-dlp version 2026.02.21 fixes this issue by validating all netrc "machine" values and raising an error upon unexpected input. As a workaround, users who are unable to upgrade should avoid using the `--netrc-cmd` command-line option (or `netrc_cmd` Python API parameter), or they should at least not pass a placeholder (`{}`) in their `--netrc-cmd` argument.
References
| Link | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/1fbbe29b99dc61375bf6d786f824d9fcf6ea9c1a | Patch |
| https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/releases/tag/2026.02.21 | Product Release Notes |
| https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/security/advisories/GHSA-g3gw-q23r-pgqm | Exploit Mitigation Vendor Advisory |
Configurations
History
25 Feb 2026, 19:32
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
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| Summary |
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| First Time |
Yt-dlp Project yt-dlp
Yt-dlp Project |
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| CPE | cpe:2.3:a:yt-dlp_project:yt-dlp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| References | () https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/1fbbe29b99dc61375bf6d786f824d9fcf6ea9c1a - Patch | |
| References | () https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/releases/tag/2026.02.21 - Product, Release Notes | |
| References | () https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/security/advisories/GHSA-g3gw-q23r-pgqm - Exploit, Mitigation, Vendor Advisory |
24 Feb 2026, 03:16
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
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| New CVE |
Information
Published : 2026-02-24 03:16
Updated : 2026-02-25 19:32
NVD link : CVE-2026-26331
Mitre link : CVE-2026-26331
CVE.ORG link : CVE-2026-26331
JSON object : View
Products Affected
yt-dlp_project
- yt-dlp
CWE
CWE-78
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
