CVE-2026-54055Public exploit

Arbitrary file overwrite via symlink race

Published Jun 12, 2026 · Updated Jun 12, 2026

Improper link resolution in Kovid Goyal's kitty before 0.47.2 allows local users to overwrite files via the file transmission protocol. DestFile.write_data opens a previously checked path without O_NOFOLLOW, so a symlink inserted after validation redirects the truncating write. A child process must control the transfer sequence and win the race after approval of a benign path; writes remain limited to files writable by the kitty user.

CVSS severity5.0
Medium
EPSS probability0.07%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper link resolution in Kovid Goyal's kitty before 0.47.2 allows local users to overwrite files via the file transmission protocol. DestFile.write_data opens a previously checked path without O_NOFOLLOW, so a symlink inserted after validation redirects the truncating write. A child process must control the transfer sequence and win the race after approval of a benign path; writes remain limited to files writable by the kitty user.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-54055
Published
Jun 12, 2026
Updated
Jun 12, 2026
Vendor
Kovid Goyal
Product
kitty
Classifications
CWE-426, CWE-59, CWE-367, T1565.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

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=< 0.47.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Kovid Goyal · kittyversion=< 0.47.2

Published CVSS scores

5.0GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-426Untrusted Search Path
CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
CWE-367Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition
T1565.001Stored Data Manipulation

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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