CVE-2026-53511
calibre: Arbitrary Code Execution in Template Formatter via Book Metadata
calibre is an e-book manager. Prior to 9.10.0, a malicious EPUB, OPF, or PDF file can execute arbitrary Python code when its metadata is read by calibre, including through Add books or Edit books, by embedding a custom column definition with a python: template in calibre:user_metadata that is passed unsanitized to exec() in the template formatter. This issue is fixed in version 9.10.0.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- Passive
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
8.5
calibre: Arbitrary Code Execution in Template Formatter via Book Metadata
calibre is an e-book manager. Prior to 9.10.0, a malicious EPUB, OPF, or PDF file can execute arbitrary Python code when its metadata is read by calibre, including through Add books or Edit books, by embedding a custom column definition with a python: template in calibre:user_metadata that is passed unsanitized to exec() in the template formatter. This issue is fixed in version 9.10.0.
- Record
CVE-2026-53511- CVSS 4.0
- 8.5 High
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 - Weakness
- CWE-94
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-42102
8.5
calibre is an e-book manager. Prior to 9.10.0, a malicious EPUB, OPF, or PDF file can execute arbitrary Python code when its metadata is read by calibre, including through Add books or Edit books, by embedding a custom column definition with a python: template in calibre:user_metadata that is passed unsanitized to exec() in the template formatter. This issue is fixed in version 9.10.0.
- Record
EUVD-2026-42102- CVSS 4.0
- 8.5 High
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 - Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
8.5
calibre is an e-book manager. Prior to 9.10.0, a malicious EPUB, OPF, or PDF file can execute arbitrary Python code when its metadata is read by calibre, including through Add books or Edit books, by embedding a custom column definition with a python: template in calibre:user_metadata that is passed unsanitized to exec() in the template formatter. This issue is fixed in version 9.10.0.
- Record
CVE-2026-53511- CVSS 4.0
- 8.5 High
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/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - Weakness
- CWE-94
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
8.5
calibre: Arbitrary Code Execution in Template Formatter via Book Metadata
calibre is an e-book manager. Prior to 9.10.0, a malicious EPUB, OPF, or PDF file can execute arbitrary Python code when its metadata is read by calibre, including through Add books or Edit books, by embedding a custom column definition with a python: template in calibre:user_metadata that is passed unsanitized to exec() in the template formatter. This issue is fixed in version 9.10.0.
- Record
CVE-2026-53511- CVSS 4.0
- 8.5 High
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 - Weakness
- CWE-94
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2026-53511
8.5
calibre is an e-book manager. Prior to 9.10.0, a malicious EPUB, OPF, or PDF file can execute arbitrary Python code when its metadata is read by calibre, including through Add books or Edit books, by embedding a custom column definition with a python: template in calibre:user_metadata that is passed unsanitized to exec() in the template formatter. This issue is fixed in version 9.10.0.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2026-53511- CVSS 4.0
- 8.5 High
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/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2026-53511
8.5
calibre is an e-book manager. Prior to 9.10.0, a malicious EPUB, OPF, or PDF file can execute arbitrary Python code when its metadata is read by calibre, including through Add books or Edit books, by embedding a custom column definition with a python: template in calibre:user_metadata that is passed unsanitized to exec() in the template formatter. This issue is fixed in version 9.10.0.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2026-53511- CVSS 4.0
- 8.5 High
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 - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2026:11130-1 No score
calibre-9.10.0-1.1 on GA media
These are all security issues fixed in the calibre-9.10.0-1.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2026:11130-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
calibreDebian:12 |
before 6.13.0+repack-2+deb12u10, plus listed versions 6.13.0+repack-26.13.0+repack-2+deb12u16.13.0+repack-2+deb12u26.13.0+repack-2+deb12u36.13.0+repack-2+deb12u4 Show 5 moreShow less6.13.0+repack-2+deb12u56.13.0+repack-2+deb12u66.13.0+repack-2+deb12u76.13.0+repack-2+deb12u86.13.0+repack-2+deb12u9 |
6.13.0+repack-2+deb12u10 |
calibreDebian:13 |
All versions, plus listed versions 8.10.0+ds-18.10.0+ds-28.10.0+ds-38.11.0+ds+~0.10.5-18.11.1+ds+~0.10.5-1 Show 45 moreShow less8.11.1+ds+~0.10.5-28.11.1+ds+~0.10.5-38.12.0+ds+~0.10.5-18.13.0+ds+~0.10.5-18.13.0+ds+~0.10.5-28.13.0+ds+~0.10.5-38.14.0+ds+~0.10.5-18.14.0+ds+~0.10.5-1~bpo13+18.15.0+ds+~0.10.5-18.15.0+ds+~0.10.5-1~bpo13+18.15.0+ds+~0.10.5-28.16.0+ds+~0.10.5-18.16.0+ds+~0.10.5-28.16.1+ds+~0.10.5-18.16.2+ds+~0.10.5-18.16.2+ds+~0.10.5-28.16.2+ds+~0.10.5-38.16.2+ds+~0.10.5-3~bpo13+18.5.0+ds-18.5.0+ds-1+deb13u18.5.0+ds-1+deb13u28.5.0+ds-1+deb13u38.6.0+ds-18.7.0+ds-18.8.0+ds-18.8.0+ds-28.8.0+ds-2+gcc158.8.0+ds-38.9.0+ds-18.9.0+ds-28.9.0+ds-38.9.0+ds-49.0.0+ds+~0.10.5-19.1.0+ds+~0.10.5-19.10.0+ds+~0.10.6-19.10.0+ds+~0.10.6-29.11.0+ds+~0.10.6-19.11.0+ds+~0.10.6-29.12.0+ds+~0.10.6-19.13.0+ds+~0.10.6-19.14.0+ds+~0.10.6-19.14.0+ds+~0.10.6-29.15.0+ds+~1.1.2-19.15.0+ds+~1.1.2-29.15.0+ds+~1.1.2-3 |
None known |
calibreDebian:14 |
before 9.10.0+ds+~0.10.6-1, plus listed versions 8.10.0+ds-18.10.0+ds-28.10.0+ds-38.11.0+ds+~0.10.5-18.11.1+ds+~0.10.5-1 Show 45 moreShow less8.11.1+ds+~0.10.5-28.11.1+ds+~0.10.5-38.12.0+ds+~0.10.5-18.13.0+ds+~0.10.5-18.13.0+ds+~0.10.5-28.13.0+ds+~0.10.5-38.14.0+ds+~0.10.5-18.14.0+ds+~0.10.5-1~bpo13+18.15.0+ds+~0.10.5-18.15.0+ds+~0.10.5-1~bpo13+18.15.0+ds+~0.10.5-28.16.0+ds+~0.10.5-18.16.0+ds+~0.10.5-28.16.1+ds+~0.10.5-18.16.2+ds+~0.10.5-18.16.2+ds+~0.10.5-28.16.2+ds+~0.10.5-38.16.2+ds+~0.10.5-3~bpo13+18.5.0+ds-18.6.0+ds-18.7.0+ds-18.8.0+ds-18.8.0+ds-28.8.0+ds-2+gcc158.8.0+ds-38.9.0+ds-18.9.0+ds-28.9.0+ds-38.9.0+ds-49.0.0+ds+~0.10.5-19.1.0+ds+~0.10.5-19.2.0+ds+~0.10.5-19.2.1+ds+~0.10.5-19.2.1+ds+~0.10.5-29.3.0+ds+~0.10.5-19.3.1+ds+~0.10.5-19.4.0+ds+~0.10.5-19.5.0+ds+~0.10.5-19.6.0+ds+~0.10.5-19.6.0+ds+~0.10.5-29.6.0+ds+~0.10.5-39.6.0+ds+~0.10.5-49.6.0+ds+~0.10.5-59.6.0+ds+~0.10.5-69.7.0+ds+~0.10.5-1 |
9.10.0+ds+~0.10.6-1 |
calibreUbuntu:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.33.0+dfsg-1build12.38.0+dfsg-12.45.0+dfsg-12.45.0+dfsg-1build12.48.0+dfsg-1 Show 4 moreShow less2.48.0+dfsg-1build12.54.0+dfsg-12.55.0+dfsg-12.55.0+dfsg-1ubuntu0.2 |
None known |
calibreUbuntu:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.7.0+dfsg-23.7.0+dfsg-2build13.12.0+dfsg-13.13.0+dfsg-13.14.0+dfsg-1 Show 10 moreShow less3.15.0.1+dfsg-13.16.0+dfsg-13.16.0+dfsg-1build13.17.0+dfsg-13.17.0+dfsg-23.18.0+dfsg-1build13.19.0+dfsg-13.20.0+dfsg-13.21.0+dfsg-13.21.0+dfsg-1build1 |
None known |
calibreUbuntu:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.46.0+dfsg-14.2.0+dfsg-24.3.0+dfsg-14.3.0+dfsg-24.4.0+dfsg-1 Show 14 moreShow less4.5.0+dfsg-14.5.0+dfsg-24.5.0+dfsg-34.6.0+dfsg-14.7.0+dfsg-14.99.3+dfsg-24.99.4+dfsg-14.99.4+dfsg-1build14.99.4+dfsg+really4.10.0+py3-24.99.4+dfsg+really4.11.2-14.99.4+dfsg+really4.11.2-1build14.99.4+dfsg+really4.12.0-14.99.4+dfsg+really4.12.0-1build14.99.4+dfsg+really4.12.0-1ubuntu1 |
None known |
calibreUbuntu:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 5.25.0+dfsg-25.33.2+dfsg-15.34.0+dfsg-15.35.0+dfsg-1ubuntu25.37.0+dfsg-15.37.0+dfsg-1build1 |
None known |
calibreUbuntu:24.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 6.24.0+ds-16.29.0+ds-17.0.0+ds-17.1.0+ds-17.1.0+ds-2 Show 9 moreShow less7.2.0+ds-17.2.0+ds-1build17.3.0+ds-17.4.0+ds-17.5.1+ds-17.5.1+ds-27.5.1+ds-37.6.0+ds-17.6.0+ds-1build1 |
None known |
calibreUbuntu:25.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 7.26.0+ds-4build18.3.0+ds-18.4.0+ds-18.5.0+ds-18.6.0+ds-1 Show 4 moreShow less8.7.0+ds-18.8.0+ds-28.8.0+ds-38.8.0+ds-3build1 |
None known |
calibreUbuntu:26.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 9.2.1+ds+~0.10.5-2build19.9.0+ds+~0.10.6-19.11.0+ds+~0.10.6-19.11.0+ds+~0.10.6-29.13.0+ds+~0.10.6-19.14.0+ds+~0.10.6-2build1 |
None known |
calibreUbuntu:26.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 8.8.0+ds-3build18.13.0+ds+~0.10.5-38.14.0+ds+~0.10.5-18.15.0+ds+~0.10.5-18.16.0+ds+~0.10.5-2 Show 4 moreShow less8.16.2+ds+~0.10.5-18.16.2+ds+~0.10.5-28.16.2+ds+~0.10.5-39.2.1+ds+~0.10.5-2build1 |
None known |
calibreopenSUSE:Tumbleweed |
before 9.10.0-1.1 | 9.10.0-1.1 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-53511 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.5) in Kovidgoyal Calibre, published June 27, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.22%, the 12th percentile. Fixed in calibre 6.13.0+repack-2+deb12u10.
References
github.com/kovidgoyal/calibre/security/advisories/GHSA-2j4m-2q7x-2c47
github.com/kovidgoyal/calibre/commit/712f4e1ff5c1e798c335bef3bacc4efdee052e9c
github.com/kovidgoyal/calibre/releases/tag/v9.10.0
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2026/08/msg00034.html
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/53xxx/CVE-2026-53511.json
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53511
Left out here: 34 versions. The JSON record has them.