CVE-2011-4124Public exploit

Local privilege escalation via mount argument injection

Published Oct 27, 2021 · Updated Aug 7, 2024

Improper input validation in calibre's Linux mount helper allows local users to gain root privileges through crafted mount arguments. The setuid devices/linux_mount_helper.c program forwards its final user-controlled operands to mount, unmount, or eject, while a bypassable exists() check permits option-like filenames to reach those commands. Any local account able to invoke the helper can alter privileged mount operations, including unmounting devices or mounting attacker-controlled content over protected paths.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability2.31%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in calibre's Linux mount helper allows local users to gain root privileges through crafted mount arguments. The setuid devices/linux_mount_helper.c program forwards its final user-controlled operands to mount, unmount, or eject, while a bypassable exists() check permits option-like filenames to reach those commands. Any local account able to invoke the helper can alter privileged mount operations, including unmounting devices or mounting attacker-controlled content over protected paths.

The record

CVE
CVE-2011-4124
Published
Oct 27, 2021
Updated
Aug 7, 2024
Vendor
Kovid Goyal
Product
calibre
Classifications
CWE-20, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 27, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 7, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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  1. Affected versionversion=unknown

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Kovid Goyal · calibreversion=unknown

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
10.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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