# CVE-2026-122137: Powerlevel10k insecure temporary directory in gitstatus installer

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-122137-powerlevel10k-before-1-20-19-contains-an-insecure-temporary  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-11-04. Updated: 2026-11-04  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-122137 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.7 · Published 2026-11-04

Powerlevel10k is a terminal theme for Zsh that includes a gitstatus installer script. If the mktemp command fails, the installer falls back to a predictable temporary directory that an attacker can pre-create, allowing privilege escalation when the extracted binary is executed with the victim's privileges.

Technologies: [Romkatv Powerlevel10k](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/powerlevel10k). Vendors: [Romkatv](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/romkatv).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-122137 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-122137 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-122137?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.7, published 4 November 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Romkatv Powerlevel10k before 1.20.19.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-122137?** Yes: fixed in 1.20.19. Until then: Ensure mktemp is available on the system. Alternatively, restrict access to directories where Powerlevel10k installation occurs or where users with elevated privileges might install it. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-122137 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-122137?** Check whether you run Romkatv Powerlevel10k at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- Fixed in 1.20.19

Ensure mktemp is available on the system. Alternatively, restrict access to directories where Powerlevel10k installation occurs or where users with elevated privileges might install it.

## Technical details

The gitstatus/install script in Powerlevel10k before 1.20.19 uses a hardcoded predictable temporary directory name (gitstatus-install.tmp) as a fallback when mktemp fails. An attacker with local access can pre-create this directory and replace the gitstatusd binary before it executes. The vulnerability allows arbitrary code execution at the privileges of the user running the installer, with no authentication required.

## Affected products

- romkatv Powerlevel10k before 1.20.19

## Timeline

- 2026-11-04: disclosed

## References

- [https://github.com/romkatv/gitstatus/commit/5433ecbb9a572d6c92be9feb33642395fccc782b](https://github.com/romkatv/gitstatus/commit/5433ecbb9a572d6c92be9feb33642395fccc782b)
- [https://github.com/romkatv/powerlevel10k](https://github.com/romkatv/powerlevel10k)

## Related threats

- [Powerlevel10k symlink following in prompt dump](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-122136-powerlevel10k-before-1-20-19-contains-a-symlink-following)
- [Powerlevel10k insecure download in gitstatus installation script](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-110102-powerlevel10k-through-1-20-0-contains-an-insecure-download)