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TI-2026-38990 Aliases CVE-2026-54056

Kitty has an arbitrary file overwrite via symlink following in `kitten dnd` remote drop staging

Priority HIGH 66CWE-59Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · High · Low
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.

Summary

Kitty is a cross-platform GPU based terminal. In versions 0.47.0 and 0.47.1, `kitten dnd` can allow a malicious remote drag-and-drop source to overwrite or truncate arbitrary files writable by the local kitty user. Remote `text/uri-list` drops are staged in a temporary directory, but on case-sensitive filesystems duplicate remote basenames are not de-duplicated. An attacker can first create a staged symlink and then send a same-name regular-file entry. The regular-file write uses `utils.CreateAt()` / `openat(O_RDWR|O_CREAT|O_TRUNC)` without `O_NOFOLLOW`, so it follows the attacker-created symlink and writes outside the staging directory before final overwrite confirmation runs. This appears related in class to the file-transfer symlink advisory, but it is a different bug: it affects `kitten dnd` remote drag-and-drop staging, uses different vulnerable code (`kittens/dnd/drop.go` and `tools/utils/file_at_fd.go`), and reproduces on commit `4aa4a5c0567a92553a8c20a88a4352da637fca5d`, after the file-transfer `O_NOFOLLOW` fix. Version 0.47.2 patches the issue.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00268 19th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed kitty (kovidgoyal): 0.47.2

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
Poc
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
kovidgoyalkitty0.47.0 to before 0.47.20.47.2Patch availableCNA
  • kitty Vendorkovidgoyal Affected 0.47.0 to before 0.47.2 Fixed in 0.47.2 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:kovidgoyal:kitty:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*0.47.0 to before 0.47.2Vulnerablekovidgoyal
  • cpe:2.3:a:kovidgoyal:kitty:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.47.0 to before 0.47.2 Vulnerable ·kovidgoyal

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA kitty (kovidgoyal) Fixed in 0.47.2

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat's page for this CVE →

Not affected: 1 product
  • Red Hat

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-54056

References

  • TI-2026-26023 Kitty has a Heap Buffer Over-Read/Write via Integer Overflow in compose_rectangles Bounds Check CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
  • TI-2026-26014 Kitty has a Heap Buffer Overflow in its Graphics Protocol Handler CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2026-38991 Kitty vulnerable to command injection via unsanitized OSC 21 query reply CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.3
  • TI-2025-28495 Origin validation error in kitty CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
  • TI-2026-38989 Kitty has an Arbitrary File Write via Symlink Race Condition in File Transmission Protocol CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.0
  • TI-2020-18102 The Graphics Protocol feature in graphics.c in kitty before 0.19.3 allows remote… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
See all 8 →

Sources