CVE-2026-72913Public exploit

Command execution via chained DCS escape sequences

Published Aug 10, 2026 · Updated Aug 10, 2026

Command injection in Kovid Goyal kitty before 0.48.2 allows attackers to execute shell commands when users display untrusted terminal data. The @kitty-echo handler writes printable command characters to the child shell's stdin, while @kitty-ssh emits an unauthenticated newline that submits them. Exploitation requires crafted bytes to reach a running kitty terminal, and commands execute with the affected local user's privileges.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in Kovid Goyal kitty before 0.48.2 allows attackers to execute shell commands when users display untrusted terminal data. The @kitty-echo handler writes printable command characters to the child shell's stdin, while @kitty-ssh emits an unauthenticated newline that submits them. Exploitation requires crafted bytes to reach a running kitty terminal, and commands execute with the affected local user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72913
Published
Aug 10, 2026
Updated
Aug 10, 2026
Vendor
Kovid Goyal
Product
kitty
Classifications
CWE-150, CWE-93, CWE-77, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 10, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 10, 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=< 0.48.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Kovid Goyal · kittyversion=< 0.48.2

Published CVSS scores

7.8Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.3GitHubCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA: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-150Improper Neutralization of Escape, Meta, or Control Sequences
CWE-93Improper Neutralization of CRLF Sequences ('CRLF Injection')
CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command 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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