Arbitrary Command Injection Affecting kitty package, versions <0.32.2-1ubuntu0.4+esm2


Severity

Recommended
medium

Based on Ubuntu security rating.

Threat Intelligence

EPSS
0.29% (21st percentile)

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  • Snyk IDSNYK-UBUNTU2404-KITTY-17339509
  • published14 Sept 2026
  • disclosed12 Jun 2026

Introduced: 12 Jun 2026

CVE-2026-42850  (opens in a new tab)
CWE-77  (opens in a new tab)

How to fix?

Upgrade Ubuntu:24.04 kitty to version 0.32.2-1ubuntu0.4+esm2 or higher.

NVD Description

Note: Versions mentioned in the description apply only to the upstream kitty package and not the kitty package as distributed by Ubuntu. See How to fix? for Ubuntu:24.04 relevant fixed versions and status.

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.

CVSS Base Scores

version 3.1