CVE-2026-42850
CVE-2026-42850 is a high-severity vulnerability in Kovidgoyal Kitty with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-77.
Key facts
- Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.8)
- CVSS v4: 7.4
- EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (33rd percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- EU (EUVD) id: EUVD-2026-36553
- Weakness: CWE-77
- Affected product: Kovidgoyal Kitty
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
Kitty is a cross-platform GPU based terminal. In versions prior to 0.47.0, it is possible to inject commands within the subshell through kitty error. A special escape code will make kitty return an error, this error is not escaped and will be correctly echoed back to the terminal with CRLF, as such it will be run by the shell in use. To exploit this bug, the victim must use a netcat or a similar program to connect to the attacker, or else listening for someone to connect. Once this condition is set, an attacker could pwn the computer of the victim using a special kitty's escape code that will run a command in the shell in use. Version 04.7.0 fixes the issue.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2026-42850?
- Kitty is a cross-platform GPU based terminal. In versions prior to 0.47.0, it is possible to inject commands within the subshell through kitty error. A special escape code will make kitty return an error, this error is not escaped and will be correctly echoed back to the terminal with CRLF, as such it will be run by the shell in use. To exploit this bug, the victim must use a netcat or a similar program to connect to the attacker, or else listening for someone to connect. Once this condition is set, an attacker could pwn the computer of the victim using a special kitty's escape code that will run a command in the shell in use. Version 04.7.0 fixes the issue.
- How severe is CVE-2026-42850?
- CVE-2026-42850 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
- Is CVE-2026-42850 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (33rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2026-42850?
- CVE-2026-42850 affects Kovidgoyal Kitty. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2026-42850?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
- Does CVE-2026-42850 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
- Yes. CVE-2026-42850 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2026-36553.
- When was CVE-2026-42850 published?
- CVE-2026-42850 was published on 2026-06-12 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
Affected products (1)
- cpe:2.3:a:kovidgoyal:kitty:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
More vulnerabilities in Kovidgoyal Kitty
- CVE-2026-33642 — Critical (CVSS 9.9): Kitty is a cross-platform GPU based terminal. In versions 0.46.2 and below, the handle_compose_command() function in…
- CVE-2020-35605 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): The Graphics Protocol feature in graphics.c in kitty before 0.19.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code…
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- CVE-2026-42851 — High (CVSS 7.8): Kitty is a cross-platform GPU based terminal. In versions prior to 0.47.0, a program able to write bytes to a kitty…
- CVE-2026-54056 — High (CVSS 7.6): Kitty is a cross-platform GPU based terminal. In versions 0.47.0 and 0.47.1, `kitten dnd` can allow a malicious remote…
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All CVEs affecting Kovidgoyal Kitty →
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