Heap-based buffer overflow in kitty - CVE-2026-33633
Published: September 22, 2026
Vulnerability identifier: #VU151623
CSH Severity: Medium
CVSS v4: 7.1 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]
CVE-ID: CVE-2026-33633
CWE-ID: CWE-122
Exploitation vector: Remote access
Exploit availability:
No public exploit available
Vulnerability details
The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service.
The vulnerability exists due to a heap-based buffer overflow in the load_image_data() function in kitty/graphics.c when processing a PNG-format Kitty graphics protocol command whose payload exceeds the resized buffer capacity. A remote attacker can send a specially crafted graphics protocol command to cause a denial of service.
User interaction is required to process the malicious terminal input.
Affected software
kitty
Debian Linux
Ubuntu
kitty (Ubuntu package)
kitty-shell-integration (Ubuntu package)
kitty (Debian package)
Debian Linux
Ubuntu
kitty (Ubuntu package)
kitty-shell-integration (Ubuntu package)
kitty (Debian package)
How to mitigate CVE-2026-33633
Install security update from vendor's website.
kitty - update to 0.47.0
kitty (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 0.15.0-1ubuntu0.2+esm1, 0.21.2-1ubuntu0.22.04.1+esm1, 0.32.2-1ubuntu0.4+esm1, 0.41.1-2+deb13u1build0.25.10.1, 0.45.0-1ubuntu0.1~esm1
kitty-shell-integration (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 0.32.2-1ubuntu0.4+esm1, 0.41.1-2+deb13u1build0.25.10.1, 0.45.0-1ubuntu0.1~esm1
kitty (Debian package) - update to 0.41.1-2+deb13u1
kitty (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 0.15.0-1ubuntu0.2+esm1, 0.21.2-1ubuntu0.22.04.1+esm1, 0.32.2-1ubuntu0.4+esm1, 0.41.1-2+deb13u1build0.25.10.1, 0.45.0-1ubuntu0.1~esm1
kitty-shell-integration (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 0.32.2-1ubuntu0.4+esm1, 0.41.1-2+deb13u1build0.25.10.1, 0.45.0-1ubuntu0.1~esm1
kitty (Debian package) - update to 0.41.1-2+deb13u1