CVE-2026-48120

Kakoune has a Critical RCE via Autorestore Backup Filename Injection

HIGH
8.6
CVSS Score
Published: August 7, 2026 at 10:34 PM UTC
Updated: October 23, 2026 at 08:10 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorKakoune

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Severity
HIGH8.6
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

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.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v < 2026.05.21
Affected range stops below 2026.05.21, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet, and no fixed version or vendor advisory is recorded against it.

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatableTotal impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

8.6HIGHGitHub_M
Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
REQUIRED
Scope
CHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusDEFERRED
CWE
CWE-74

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