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TI-2026-63706 Aliases CVE-2026-95835GHSA-c73q-fvjv-39j2

Missing ownership check on the shared memory object named by the kitty askpass escape code

Priority LOW 24CWE-862Published · Updated

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

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.001 0th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed kitty (Kovid Goyal): 0.49.0

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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
kovidgoyalkitty0.25.0 to before 0.49.00.49.0Patch availableCNA
  • 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

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-2026-95835
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-c73q-fvjv-39j2

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-2026-51129 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
See all 29 →

Sources