Missing authorization in kovidgoyal calibre
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · High · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-862.
Summary
calibre is an e-book manager. Prior to 9.12.0, the calibre Content Server endpoint POST /book-update-annotations/{library_id}/{book_id}/{fmt} in src/calibre/srv/books.py omits needs_db_write=True, causing Router.dispatch() to skip ctx.check_for_write_access() before update_annotations() passes attacker-controlled JSON to db.merge_annotations_for_book(), which allows a readonly user or an anonymous user on an unauthenticated deployment to persist unauthorized book annotation changes. This issue is fixed in version 9.12.0.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| kovidgoyal | calibre | before 9.12.0 | 9.12.0 | Patch available | CNA |
- calibre Vendorkovidgoyal Affected before 9.12.0 Fixed in 9.12.0 Patch available CNA
Remediation
- Fix · CNA calibre (kovidgoyal) Fixed in 9.12.0
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-73249
References
More kovidgoyal vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-26023 Kitty has a Heap Buffer Over-Read/Write via Integer Overflow in compose_rectangles Bounds Check CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
- TI-2026-51129 Kitty: Command injection into the child shell via chained @kitty-echo + @kitty-ssh DCS escape sequences CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.3
- TI-2026-26014 Kitty has a Heap Buffer Overflow in its Graphics Protocol Handler CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-51385 calibre: Bypass of Python template restrictions via nested `template()` leading to RCE CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.5
- TI-2026-38585 calibre: Arbitrary Code Execution in Template Formatter via Book Metadata CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.5
- TI-2026-25627 calibre has a path traversal vulnerability CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.2
Sources
- CVE-2026-73249 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-73249 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- CVE-2026-73249 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences