CVE-2024-38519: Yewtube · yt-dlp File system modification and RCE through improper file-extension sanitization
Affects yewtubeSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High : upgrade to 2.10.5_5 soon.
Data as of 1 Nov 2026, 22:57 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.3% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 25% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 2.10.5_5
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 13 Aug 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 1 Nov 2026.
What to do
Upgrade yewtube to 2.10.5_5.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Homebrewyewtubepkg:brew/yewtubeOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A fix is available in yt-dlp version 2024.07.01, which should be applied promptly. Users should always include '.%(ext)s' at the end of output templates and avoid downloading to directories in the system PATH or other sensitive locations. For those unable to upgrade immediately, restrict downloads to common media extensions, avoid generic extractors, use default output templates, omit subtitle options, and avoid loading configuration files from common locations using '--ignore-config --config-location ...'.
Description
yt-dlp versions from 2.10.5 up to but not including 2.10.5_5 do not restrict file extensions for downloaded files, allowing creation of arbitrary filenames including executables. Because yt-dlp reads configuration files from the working directory and executes Windows executables found there, this can lead to arbitrary code execution. The issue is fixed in yt-dlp version 2024.07.01 by whitelisting allowed extensions. Users are advised to upgrade and follow recommended safe usage practices to mitigate risk.
References
- github.com/dirkf/youtube-dl/security/advisories/GHSA-22fp-mf44-f2mq (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/security/advisories/GHSA-79w7-vh3h-8g4j (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38519 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl/pull/32830 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/commit/5ce582448ececb8d9c30c8c31f58330090ced03a (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl/commit/d42a222ed541b96649396ef00e19552aef0f09ec (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/releases/tag/2024.07.01 (opens in a new tab)
- securitylab.github.com/advisories/GHSL-2024-089_youtube-dl (opens in a new tab)
- securitylab.github.com/advisories/GHSL-2024-090_yt-dlp (opens in a new tab)