CVE-2026-54055

MEDIUM

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

Title source: cna
STIX 2.1

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.

References (1)

Core 1
Core References

Scores

CVSS v3 5.0
EPSS 0.0007
EPSS Percentile 0.1%
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation poc
Automatable no
Technical Impact partial

Details

CWE
CWE-367 CWE-426 CWE-59
Status published
Products (1)
kovidgoyal/kitty < 0.47.2
Published Jun 12, 2026
Tracked Since Jun 13, 2026