CVE-2025-12121: lite xl Command Injection

Description

Lite XL versions 2.1.8 and prior contain a vulnerability in the system.exec function, which allowed arbitrary command execution through unsanitized shell command construction. This function was used in project directory launching (core.lua), drag-and-drop file handling (rootview.lua), and the “open in system” command in the treeview plugin (treeview.lua). If an attacker could influence input to system.exec, they might execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the Lite XL process.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

7.3

HIGH

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-78 OS Command Injection

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
lite-xl	lite_xl	< 2.1.8

References

Advisories & Patches

https://github.com/lite-xl/lite-xl/pull/2163 https://kb.cert.org/vuls/id/579478

Exploits

https://kb.cert.org/vuls/id/579478

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-12121? +

Lite XL versions 2.1.8 and prior contain a vulnerability in the system.exec function, which allowed arbitrary command execution through unsanitized shell command construction. This function was used in project directory launching (core.lua), drag-and-drop file handling (rootview.lua), and the “open in system” command in the treeview plugin (treeview.lua). If an attacker could influence input to system.exec, they might execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the Lite XL process. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.3 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-2025-12121? +

CVE-2025-12121 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.3 out of 10, rated HIGH. This is a high-severity vulnerability that should be prioritized for patching.

What products are affected by CVE-2025-12121? +

CVE-2025-12121 affects products from lite-xl, specifically: lite_xl. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2025-12121? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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CVE-2025-12121