Missing ownership check on the shared memory object named by the kitty askpass escape code
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- Active
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- Present
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · Low · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-862.
Summary
Missing Authorization in the askpass escape code handler in kitty from 0.25.0 before 0.49.0 allows a local user other than the one running the terminal to obtain the text typed into a prompt that kitty itself displays, because handle_remote_askpass() in kitty/window.py opens the POSIX shared memory object named in the escape code, parses a prompt definition out of it, and writes the user's answer back into an object of that same name, without at any point checking that the object is owned by the user running kitty or that its permissions exclude other users. The equivalent consumer of the same SharedMemory class in the ssh kitten performs exactly that check; the askpass path did not. The handler is reached through a device control string processed from the byte stream of the window, so the attacker must also cause bytes of their choosing to be displayed by the victim's terminal. Where the POSIX shared memory namespace is shared between the two users, a second local user can create an object with permissions that allow the victim to read and write it, cause the victim's kitty to render a prompt of the attacker's choosing, including a masked password prompt, and read the typed secret back out of the object afterwards. The prompt text is additionally passed to the display without control character sanitisation, so it can overwrite the warning line kitty prints above it. The answer is written by reopening an object of that name when the user answers, rather than through the handle already held. This results in disclosure of a secret typed by the victim to a second local user, and does not require any privilege on the victim's account.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- 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
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| kovidgoyal | kitty | 0.25.0 to before 0.49.0 | 0.49.0 | Patch available | CNA |
- kitty Vendorkovidgoyal Affected 0.25.0 to before 0.49.0 Fixed in 0.49.0 Patch available CNA
Remediation
- Fix · CNA kitty (Kovid Goyal) Fixed in 0.49.0
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
Kovid Goyal kitty 0.49.0
6 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 1 MEDIUM, 5 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-63703 Reflected unknown field names in the kitty colour control escape code allow command execution in the user's shellPriority MEDIUM 41
- TI-2026-55508 Out-of-bounds write in the kitty text sizing protocol allows termination of the terminal processPriority LOW 29
- TI-2026-55509 Missing authorization in the kitty drag and drop protocol allows a client to obtain dragged file contents without a dropPriority LOW 26
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-95835
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-c73q-fvjv-39j2
References
More kovidgoyal vulnerabilities
- 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-2026-51129 Kitty: Command injection into the child shell via chained @kitty-echo + @kitty-ssh DCS escape sequences CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.3
- TI-2026-26014 Kitty has a Heap Buffer Overflow in its Graphics Protocol Handler CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-51386 Missing authorization in kovidgoyal calibre CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2026-51385 calibre: Bypass of Python template restrictions via nested `template()` leading to RCE CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.5
- TI-2026-38585 calibre: Arbitrary Code Execution in Template Formatter via Book Metadata CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.5
Sources
- CVE-2026-95835 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-95835 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-c73q-fvjv-39j2 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-95835 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences