Ultralytics YOLO: Path traversal with code execution in Google Drive downloads
Summary
Ultralytics YOLO, a Python library for computer vision, contains a path traversal flaw (CWE-22) in its handling of Google Drive downloads. The software does not properly validate a user-supplied path before using it in file operations. A remote attacker can execute arbitrary code in the context of the current process if a user visits a malicious page or opens a malicious file.
Affected
- Ultralytics 8.4.103 (according to the CNA record)
- Other versions: Unknown. Conflicting data exists (NixOS tracker lists 8.4.51 and 8.4.48 builds).
Fixed in
Unknown. No fixed version has been confirmed by the vendor.
Workaround
- Restrict interaction with untrusted content that triggers Google Drive downloads in Ultralytics (ZDI's only stated mitigation).
Exploitation
- No evidence of exploitation in the wild found; not listed in CISA KEV.
- No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB.
- VulDB rates exploitation as easy; this is unverified.
- EPSS: 0.53 % (percentile 45).
Our recommendation
- Inventory where the ultralytics package is installed (pip, Docker images, Nix builds).
- Do not process untrusted Google Drive links or files in Ultralytics until a fix is available.
- Run inference services with least privilege and without access to sensitive data where possible.
- Upgrade to the vendor's fixed version as soon as it is published and confirmed.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- ZDI advisory ZDI-26-818 www.zerodayinitiative.com
- Strix CVE page CVE-2026-118619 www.strix.ai
- VulDB entry 428057 vuldb.com
- OffSeq CVE record radar.offseq.com
- OffSeq ZDI-26-818 record radar.offseq.com
- NixOS tracker issue 580865 github.com
- Ultralytics PR 26857 github.com
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 31 Oct 2026, 09:25.
Original description (NVD)
Ultralytics Google Drive Download Path Traversal Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Ultralytics. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the handling of downloads from Google Drive. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of a user-supplied path prior to using it in file operations. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-32376.
NVD references (1)
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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