Lite XL up to 2.1.8 core.lua system.exec os command injection

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Lite XL up to 2.1.8. The affected element is the function system.exec of the file core.lua. The manipulation results in os command injection. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2025-12121. The attack can be launched remotely. No exploit exists. It is advisable to implement a patch to correct this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Lite XL up to 2.1.8. It has been classified as critical. Affected is the function system.exec of the file core.lua. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a os command injection vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-78. 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. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

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.

The advisory is shared for download at kb.cert.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2025-12121. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1202.

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2025-198291). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Name

• Lite XL

Version

• 2.1.0
• 2.1.1
• 2.1.2
• 2.1.3
• 2.1.4
• 2.1.5
• 2.1.6
• 2.1.7
• 2.1.8

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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