CVE-2026-48120 HIGH

CVE-2026-48120: Kakoune has a Critical RCE via Autorestore Backup Filename Injection

Vendor Mawww

Product kakoune

Weakness CWE-74

Published August 7, 2026

Last update August 11, 2026

View on NVD All CVEs

CVSS base score

8.6/10

Attack vector Local

Attack complexity Low

Privileges required None

User interaction Required

Confidentiality High

Integrity High

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

What the vulnerability does

01Description

Kakoune is a code editor. Prior to version 2026.05.21, the bundled, enabled by default, `autorestore.kak` script can be exploited by malicious backup files leading to arbitrary kakoune and shell commands being executed by simply opening a file. Kakoune 2026.05.21 fixes the issue. As a workaround, add `autorestore-disable` to the user kakrc will disable the autorestore feature.

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

August 7, 2026 CVE published

August 11, 2026 Record updated

External resources

03References

NVD — National Vulnerability Database https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-48120 CWE — Common Weakness Enumeration https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/74.html AskarLabs — CWE-74 write-up Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output ('Injection')

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04Related CVE

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