TI-2026-38640 Aliases CVE-2026-53579

Trilium: Note Import to RCE via Book Note

MEDIUM 42CWE-79Published 2026-08-27 · Updated 2026-08-28

Key facts

Attack vector: Local
Privileges required: None
User interaction: Active
Attack complexity: Low
Attack requirements: None
Impact type: Cross-site scripting, Code execution
Confidentiality · integrity · availability: High · High · High
Fix status: Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-79 and CWE-94.

Summary

Trilium is an open-source hierarchical note-taking application. In versions up to and including 0.103.0, the default-on "Safe import" filter sanitizes HTML only for text notes and excludes the book note type, whose content is stored without sanitization and later rendered as HTML, allowing an attacker-supplied import archive to embed a payload that executes as script. A book note's content is routed through the same rendering path as text notes and injected into the page with jQuery's html method when the note is shown as a grid-view preview card, so a malicious note survives Safe import and runs as soon as the victim opens the containing note. On the desktop client the Electron renderer runs with Node integration enabled, so the injected JavaScript escalates from cross-site scripting to full remote code execution on the victim's machine. This issue is fixed in version 0.104.0.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV

EPSS 0.00252 16th percentileScored 2026-11-07

Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD

Fix Fixed Trilium (TriliumNext): 0.104.0

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation: None
Automatable: No
Technical impact: Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

Vendor	Product	Affected versions	Fixed in	Status	Source
TriliumNext	Trilium	before 0.104.0	0.104.0	Patch available	CNA

Trilium VendorTriliumNext Affected before 0.104.0 Fixed in 0.104.0 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPE	Versions	Role	Vendor
cpe:2.3:a:triliumnotes:trilium::::::::	before 0.104.0	Vulnerable	TriliumNext

cpe:2.3:a:triliumnotes:trilium:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 0.104.0 Vulnerable ·TriliumNext

Remediation

Fix · CNA Trilium (TriliumNext) Fixed in 0.104.0

Timeline

2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-53579
2026-10-14 CVSS score added · NVD

References

Exploit 1

https://github.com/TriliumNext/Trilium/security/advisories/GHSA-h7w4-cjfg-cvj8

Patch 1

https://github.com/TriliumNext/Trilium/commit/abb01f09b3ad7792bd3d42a973730c99a062a808

TI-2026-36250 Trilium: Malicious import with GeoMap marker title XSS leads to RCE on the desktop client CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.3
TI-2026-38639 Trilium: Note Import to RCE via Mind Elixir dangerouslySetInnerHtml CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.3
TI-2026-54012 Trilium unauthenticated share-search discloses password-protected and hidden shared notes CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
TI-2026-35228 Code injection in TriliumNext Trilium CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.6
TI-2026-38641 Trilium arbitrary file read and denial of service via file:// URLs in the automatic image-download feature CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
TI-2025-42139 Trilium Notes has a Timing Attack Vulnerability in /api/login/sync CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.4

See all 7 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences