CVE-2026-42851Public exploit

Unauthenticated code execution via geninclude color parsing

Published Jun 12, 2026 · Updated Jun 12, 2026

Code injection in Kovid Goyal kitty before 0.47.0 allows attackers to execute Python through attacker-controlled terminal output. The unauthenticated @kitty-edit DCS handler accepts --color, parse_colors reparses geninclude as configuration, and pygeninclude passes the referenced file to runpy.run_path. Viewing hostile bytes in a default-configured terminal is sufficient, and the code runs inside kitty with the user's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.16%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code injection in Kovid Goyal kitty before 0.47.0 allows attackers to execute Python through attacker-controlled terminal output. The unauthenticated @kitty-edit DCS handler accepts --color, parse_colors reparses geninclude as configuration, and pygeninclude passes the referenced file to runpy.run_path. Viewing hostile bytes in a default-configured terminal is sufficient, and the code runs inside kitty with the user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-42851
Published
Jun 12, 2026
Updated
Jun 12, 2026
Vendor
Kovid Goyal
Product
kitty
Classifications
CWE-862, CWE-94, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 12, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jun 12, 2026Record 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=< 0.47.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Kovid Goyal · kittyversion=< 0.47.0

Published CVSS scores

7.8Kovid GoyalCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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-862Missing Authorization
CWE-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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