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Vulnerability · Published Jul 7, 2026 · Assigned by GitHub_M

CVE-2026-53511calibre: Arbitrary Code Execution in Template Formatter via Book Metadata

High 8.5

In plain English

A high-severity code injection in calibre from kovidgoyal. Proof-of-concept exploit code is public. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 0.2% (higher than 13% of all known vulnerabilities). Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.

Severity (CVSS 4.0)8.5High
Exploit odds (30 days)0.2%top 87.5% of all CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo reportsCISA SSVC: poc
Attack toolingNoneno public tooling known

Official description

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.

Affected packages & fixed versions

EcosystemPackageFixed inAdvisory
Debian:12calibre6.13.0+repack-2+deb12u10DEBIAN-CVE-2026-53511
Debian:13calibreno fix listedDEBIAN-CVE-2026-53511
Debian:14calibre9.10.0+ds+~0.10.6-1DEBIAN-CVE-2026-53511
Ubuntu:22.04:LTScalibreno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-53511
Ubuntu:24.04:LTScalibreno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-53511
Ubuntu:25.10calibreno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-53511
Ubuntu:26.04:LTScalibreno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-53511
Ubuntu:26.10calibreno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-53511

Affected products (as reported)

VendorProductVersions
kovidgoyal calibre < 9.10.0

Weakness: CWE-94 · Vector: 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

References