# CVE-2026-40491: gdown: gdown is a Google Drive public file/folder downloader

CVE-2026-40491 is fixed in gdown on 1 platform, first by DEBIAN-CVE-2026-40491, released May 15, 2026. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: High.

- Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-40491
- Priority: High
- CVSS: 7.8 (high)
- EPSS: 0.0058
- CISA KEV: not listed
- Exploited (vendor report): no
- Publicly disclosed: no
- Published: Apr 18, 2026

## Description

gdown is a Google Drive public file/folder downloader. Versions prior to 5.2.2 are vulnerable to a Path Traversal attack within the extractall functionality. When extracting a maliciously crafted ZIP or TAR archive, the library fails to sanitize or validate the filenames of the archive members. This allow files to be written outside the intended destination directory, potentially leading to arbitrary file overwrite and Remote Code Execution (RCE). Version 5.2.2 contains a fix.

## Where it's fixed

| Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | gdown Debian 13.5 (trixie) | 5.2.0+dfsg-2+deb13u1 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2026-40491](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2026-40491.md) | May 15, 2026 |
| Linux | gdown Debian 14 | 6.0.0+dfsg-1 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2026-40491](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2026-40491.md) | May 15, 2026 |

---

Data as of 2026-11-08T06:59:42Z UTC. Source: Patchblox Patch Radar (https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar). Patchblox finds out-of-date software on Windows, macOS and Linux and updates it through release rings: https://patchblox.com/demo

Free to use with attribution: show "Data: Patchblox Patch Radar" with a link to https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar. Terms, including what needs a written agreement: https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar/use-the-data

Product names, logos and trademarks shown on Patch Radar belong to their respective owners. They are used only to identify the software each security fix applies to and to help readers find their platform. Their use does not imply any affiliation with, or endorsement by, those owners, and Patchblox is not affiliated with any of them.