# CVE-2026-18656: Executable Resolution from Untrusted Project Directory in Kiro IDE on Windows

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code on Windows users by tricking them into opening a malicious project directory in Kiro IDE.

- **Severity:** High 8.5 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 4 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-hhmj-6g9r-9vvq

## What is CVE-2026-18656?

CVE-2026-18656 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Amazon Kiro IDE, published on 4 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

An uncontrolled search path element in Kiro IDE before version 1.0.228 on Windows might allow a remote unauthenticated actor to execute arbitrary code via a maliciously crafted project directory containing an executable that bypasses workspace trust protections when a local user opens the directory.

To remediate this issue, users should upgrade to version 1.0.228 or higher.

Weakness: CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-18656?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Amazon Kiro Ide.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-18656?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-18656 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-18656 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-18656 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Amazon Kiro IDE

- [CVE-2026-10591](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-10591/): Kiro IDE Insufficient File Write Restrictions to Execution-Sensitive Paths (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2026-0830](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-0830/): Command Injection in Kiro GitLab Merge Request Helper (high 8.4)
- [CVE-2026-89332](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-89332/): Kiro IDE Sensitive Workspace Data Exfiltration via Agent-Written Workspace Configuration (medium 6.7)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-18656 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-18656 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Amazon Kiro IDE, published on 4 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-18656 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Amazon Kiro IDE. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-18656/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-18656/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-18656
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-18656
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-18656

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-18656/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.