CVE-2026-54056
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.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (0.27%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
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
- 7.1 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L
- EPSS
- 0.27% probability · 19th percentile
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-59
- Affected
- kovidgoyal/kitty
- Source
- security-advisories@github.com
References
- https://github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty/security/advisories/GHSA-r892-cv7q-fw8xExploit, Mitigation, Vendor Advisory
- https://github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty/security/advisories/GHSA-r892-cv7q-fw8xExploit, Mitigation, Vendor Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA. Refreshed daily.