Description
Missing Authorization in the askpass escape code handler in kitty from 0.25.0 before 0.49.0 allows a local user other than the one running the terminal to obtain the text typed into a prompt that kitty itself displays, because handle_remote_askpass() in kitty/window.py opens the POSIX shared memory object named in the escape code, parses a prompt definition out of it, and writes the user's answer back into an object of that same name, without at any point checking that the object is owned by the user running kitty or that its permissions exclude other users. The equivalent consumer of the same SharedMemory class in the ssh kitten performs exactly that check; the askpass path did not. The handler is reached through a device control string processed from the byte stream of the window, so the attacker must also cause bytes of their choosing to be displayed by the victim's terminal. Where the POSIX shared memory namespace is shared between the two users, a second local user can create an object with permissions that allow the victim to read and write it, cause the victim's kitty to render a prompt of the attacker's choosing, including a masked password prompt, and read the typed secret back out of the object afterwards. The prompt text is additionally passed to the display without control character sanitisation, so it can overwrite the warning line kitty prints above it. The answer is written by reopening an object of that name when the user answers, rather than through the handle already held. This results in disclosure of a secret typed by the victim to a second local user, and does not require any privilege on the victim's account.
Published: 2026-09-25
Score: 5.6 Medium
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Secret disclosure
Action: Immediate patch
AI Analysis

Impact

The vulnerability allows a local user to read secrets typed into prompts displayed by kitty. A parameter in the askpass escape code directs kitty to open a POSIX shared memory object specified in the escape code. Because kitty does not verify ownership or permissions of that object, a second user can create an object that the victim’s kitty will open and later read from. This permits retrieval of passwords or other sensitive strings without requiring any privilege escalation.

Affected Systems

The flaw exists in Kovid Goyal’s kitty terminal emulator in versions released before 0.49.0, particularly 0.25.0 through 0.48.x. Any system running an affected version on a POSIX file system where multiple users share the same /dev/shm namespace is vulnerable.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS base score of 5.6 indicates a moderate impact. The EPSS score is not available, but the attack requires a local user who can influence the victim’s terminal output and create a shared memory object with permissive permissions. Because the vulnerability does not require elevated privileges, it is potentially exploitable by any co‑resident user in a shared namespace. The fix is provided in kitty 0.49.0 and later, and the vulnerability is not yet listed in CISA’s KEV catalog.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on September 25, 2026 at 18:23 UTC.

Remediation

Vendor Solution

Upgrade to kitty 0.49.0 or later. Only systems on which the two users share a POSIX shared memory namespace are exposed to the cross-user case; a session confined to its own mount namespace with its own /dev/shm, as in a container, is not.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Upgrade kitty to version 0.49.0 or newer.
  • Run kitty in an isolated /dev/shm namespace, for example by using a container or mount namespace, so that users do not share shared memory objects.
  • If upgrading immediately is not possible, disable or avoid use of the askpass escape code until a patch is applied.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on September 25, 2026 at 18:23 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 18:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 16:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Missing Authorization in the askpass escape code handler in kitty from 0.25.0 before 0.49.0 allows a local user other than the one running the terminal to obtain the text typed into a prompt that kitty itself displays, because handle_remote_askpass() in kitty/window.py opens the POSIX shared memory object named in the escape code, parses a prompt definition out of it, and writes the user's answer back into an object of that same name, without at any point checking that the object is owned by the user running kitty or that its permissions exclude other users. The equivalent consumer of the same SharedMemory class in the ssh kitten performs exactly that check; the askpass path did not. The handler is reached through a device control string processed from the byte stream of the window, so the attacker must also cause bytes of their choosing to be displayed by the victim's terminal. Where the POSIX shared memory namespace is shared between the two users, a second local user can create an object with permissions that allow the victim to read and write it, cause the victim's kitty to render a prompt of the attacker's choosing, including a masked password prompt, and read the typed secret back out of the object afterwards. The prompt text is additionally passed to the display without control character sanitisation, so it can overwrite the warning line kitty prints above it. The answer is written by reopening an object of that name when the user answers, rather than through the handle already held. This results in disclosure of a secret typed by the victim to a second local user, and does not require any privilege on the victim's account.
Title Missing ownership check on the shared memory object named by the kitty askpass escape code
First Time appeared Kovidgoyal
Kovidgoyal kitty
Weaknesses CWE-862
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:kovidgoyal:kitty:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Kovidgoyal
Kovidgoyal kitty
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 5.6, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:A/VC:H/VI:L/VA:N/SC:H/SI:N/SA:N'}

Subscriptions

Kovidgoyal Kitty
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Secur0

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-25T17:00:02.889Z

Reserved: 2026-09-22T16:30:34.123Z

Link: CVE-2026-95835

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-09-25T16:59:58.213Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Awaiting Analysis

Published: 2026-09-25T17:17:20.403

Modified: 2026-09-29T21:32:59.833

Link: CVE-2026-95835

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-09-26T11:00:06Z

Weaknesses