CVE-2026-54056

Status: AnalyzedHigh (7.1)—

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.

Read full descriptionShow less

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.

CVSS

Version: 3.1
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L
Base score: 7.1

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 0.38%
Percentile among all scored CVEs: 30
Score date: 10/4/2026

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

🎯 ATT&CK techniques

How this vulnerability is exploited and what the attacker gains, in MITRE ATT&CK terms.

ExploitationT1203 Exploitation for Client Executionexecution60 %
Primary impactT1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalationprivilege escalation55 %

Inferred by deterministic rules from the CVSS vector and CWE. Indicative only.

🛡️ ATT&CK mitigations that cover these techniques

Application Isolation and Sandboxing Exploit Protection Update Software Threat Intelligence Program Execution Prevention

Affected technologies (1)

Kovidgoyal — Kitty

CWEs

CWE-59

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

Show

{
  "id": "CVE-2026-54056",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "ssvcV203": [
      {
        "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
        "ssvcData": {
          "id": "CVE-2026-54056",
          "role": "CISA Coordinator",
          "options": [
            {
              "exploitation": "poc"
            },
            {
              "automatable": "no"
            },
            {
              "technicalImpact": "partial"
            }
          ],
          "version": "2.0.3",
          "timestamp": "2026-06-15T13:02:47.195998Z"
        }
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV31": [
      {
        "type": "Secondary",
        "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "CHANGED",
          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 7.6,
          "attackVector": "NETWORK",
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:L",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "LOW",
          "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
          "confidentialityImpact": "NONE"
        },
        "impactScore": 4.7,
        "exploitabilityScore": 2.3
      },
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 7.1,
          "attackVector": "NETWORK",
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "LOW",
          "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "NONE"
        },
        "impactScore": 4.2,
        "exploitabilityScore": 2.8
      }
    ]
  },
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "kovidgoyal",
          "product": "kitty",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": ">= 0.47.0, < 0.47.2"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "published": "2026-06-12T21:16:24.463",
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty/security/advisories/GHSA-r892-cv7q-fw8x",
      "tags": [
        "Exploit",
        "Mitigation",
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty/security/advisories/GHSA-r892-cv7q-fw8x",
      "tags": [
        "Exploit",
        "Mitigation",
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0"
    }
  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Analyzed",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Secondary",
      "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-59"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "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."
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-06-17T10:58:10.627",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:kovidgoyal:kitty:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "E68DF582-51E7-4585-9070-2CA8F562D842",
              "versionEndExcluding": "0.47.2",
              "versionStartIncluding": "0.47.0"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "security-advisories@github.com"
}