CVE-2026-42850: Kitty has a shell command injection
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.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
kittyto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 04.7.0
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-42850?
CVE-2026-42850 has a high severity score of 7.4 according to the CVSS 4.0 metrics.
How do I fix CVE-2026-42850?
To resolve CVE-2026-42850, update your Kitty software to version 0.47.0 or later.
What is the risk associated with CVE-2026-42850?
The risk associated with CVE-2026-42850 is rated at 53, indicating a moderate to high level of risk.
What types of attacks can CVE-2026-42850 facilitate?
CVE-2026-42850 can facilitate shell command injection attacks due to improper error handling.
Which versions of Kitty are affected by CVE-2026-42850?
All versions of Kitty prior to 0.47.0 are affected by CVE-2026-42850.