CVE-2026-54056: Kovidgoyal Kitty vulnerability (CVSS 7.6)

Description

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.

CVSS 3.1 breakdown

Attack vectorNetwork

Attack complexityLow

Privileges requiredLow

User interactionRequired

ScopeChanged

ConfidentialityNone

IntegrityHigh

AvailabilityLow

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:L

Affected products

Kovidgoyal Kitty≥ 0.47.0 < 0.47.2

Remediation

Fixed in

Kovidgoyal Kitty≥ 0.47.2

Patch & vendor advisories

https://github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty/security/advisories/GHSA-r892-cv7q-fw8x

References

https://github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty/security/advisories/GHSA-r892-cv7q-fw8xExploitMitigationVendor Advisory

Related CVEs

Recent high-severity vulnerabilities sharing a weakness type.

Frequently asked

Is CVE-2026-54056 being actively exploited?

CVE-2026-54056 is not in the CISA KEV catalog. A public exploit reference exists, so treat it as exploitable. Its EPSS exploit probability is 0.38%.

How severe is CVE-2026-54056?

CVE-2026-54056 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.6, rated high. EPSS estimates a 0.38% probability of exploitation.

Which products are affected by CVE-2026-54056?

Affected products include Kovidgoyal Kitty.

How do I fix CVE-2026-54056?

Upgrade affected software to a fixed version, for example Kovidgoyal Kitty 0.47.2 or later, then confirm no affected versions remain in your inventory.

How Secuno handles this

Secuno correlates vulnerabilities like CVE-2026-54056 against the real software inventory on every managed device, as each hourly inventory arrives. Rather than a static severity, each match is scored in context: exploit availability, EPSS, the asset's exposure, and business criticality decide where it lands in the queue. If an affected version is present anywhere across your portfolio, it surfaces automatically with a prioritised remediation path.

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