Vulnerability 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.
CVSS Score
MEDIUM
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Kovidgoyal | Kitty | < 0.47.2 |
Related Weaknesses (CWE)
References
- https://github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty/security/advisories/GHSA-q446-x7q6-vcxhMitigationVendor Advisory
- https://github.com/kovidgoyal/kitty/security/advisories/GHSA-q446-x7q6-vcxhMitigationVendor Advisory
FAQ
What is CVE-2026-54055?
CVE-2026-54055 is a vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.0 (MEDIUM). 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 ...
How severe is CVE-2026-54055?
CVE-2026-54055 has been rated MEDIUM with a CVSS base score of 5.0/10. Review the CVSS metrics above for detailed severity breakdown.
Is there a patch for CVE-2026-54055?
Check the references section above for vendor advisories and patch information. Affected products include: Kovidgoyal Kitty.