RCE in Lite Xl
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.
Vulnerability class: Command Injection (OS Command Injection)
Published · last modified .
CVSS v3 metric
CVSS v3 base score 7.3 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
EPSS exploit prediction
EPSS: 0.004 (27.7th percentile), scored .
Very low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days; routine patching cadence is appropriate. 28th percentile — 27.7% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.
EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.004 · newest: 0.004 · change: 0.000
Affected products
- Lite Xl — versions 2.1.8 and earlier
- Lite-Xl Lite Xl
Weakness classification (CWE)
References
- github.com/lite-xl/lite-xl/pull/2163 (Patch)
- kb.cert.org/vuls/id/579478 (Exploit, Patch, Third Party Advisory)
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2025-12121?
- CVE-2025-12121 is a high-severity vulnerability in Lite Xl, classified under OS Command Injection. CVSS score: 7.3/10. Published 2025-11-20.
- How severe is CVE-2025-12121?
- High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 7.3 out of 10.