CVE-2025-43929Public exploit

Code execution via unconfirmed local executable launch

Published Apr 20, 2025 · Updated Apr 21, 2025

Origin validation error in kitty before 0.41.0 allows context-dependent attackers to execute local files through crafted document links. For executable MIME types, default_launch_actions passed FILE_PATH directly to launch; script rules used confirm-if-needed instead of confirm-always. Exploitation requires a user to open an untrusted document and activate its link to an existing local executable, which then runs with that user's permissions.

CVSS severity4.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.19%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Origin validation error in kitty before 0.41.0 allows context-dependent attackers to execute local files through crafted document links. For executable MIME types, default_launch_actions passed FILE_PATH directly to launch; script rules used confirm-if-needed instead of confirm-always. Exploitation requires a user to open an untrusted document and activate its link to an existing local executable, which then runs with that user's permissions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-43929
Published
Apr 20, 2025
Updated
Apr 21, 2025
Vendor
Kovid Goyal
Product
kitty
Classifications
CWE-346, T1204.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 20, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 21, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <0.41.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Kovid Goyal · kittyversion=0 <0.41.0

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.1MITRECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-346Origin Validation Error
T1204.001Malicious Link

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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