CVE-2026-54055

Kitty has an Arbitrary File Write via Symlink Race Condition in File Transmission Protocol

Published Jun 12, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Kitty is a cross-platform GPU based terminal. In versions prior to 0.47.2, a local privilege escalation vulnerability exists in kitty's file transmission protocol where a child process running in the terminal can write to arbitrary files on the filesystem by exploiting a TOCTOU (Time-of-Check-Time-of-Use) race condition between symlink validation and file creation. The `os.open()` call used to create files does not use `O_NOFOLLOW`, allowing an attacker to create a symlink between the initial stat check and the actual file open, causing the write to follow the symlink to an arbitrary destination. Version 0.47.2 fixes the issue.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6423-1 kitty security update
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:kovidgoyal:kitty:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Kovidgoyal
Kovidgoyal kitty
Vendors & Products Kovidgoyal
Kovidgoyal kitty
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Kitty is a cross-platform GPU based terminal. In versions prior to 0.47.2, a local privilege escalation vulnerability exists in kitty's file transmission protocol where a child process running in the terminal can write to arbitrary files on the filesystem by exploiting a TOCTOU (Time-of-Check-Time-of-Use) race condition between symlink validation and file creation. The `os.open()` call used to create files does not use `O_NOFOLLOW`, allowing an attacker to create a symlink between the initial stat check and the actual file open, causing the write to follow the symlink to an arbitrary destination. Version 0.47.2 fixes the issue.
Title Kitty has an Arbitrary File Write via Symlink Race Condition in File Transmission Protocol
Weaknesses CWE-367
CWE-426
CWE-59
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Jun 15, 2026, 7:28 PM
Reserved
Jun 11, 2026, 6:24 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Jun 12, 2026, 8:16 PM
Modified
Oct 26, 2026, 11:10 AM