CVE-2011-4125Public exploit

Local root execution via attacker-controlled PATH lookup

Published Oct 27, 2021 · Updated Aug 7, 2024

Untrusted search path handling in calibre's Linux mount helper allows local users to execute arbitrary programs as root through a crafted PATH. The setuid helper calls execlp for mount, unmount, and eject without an absolute path, so it resolves attacker-supplied executables through PATH. A local account and an installation retaining the root-owned setuid helper are required; successful exploitation grants root command execution.

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

Untrusted search path handling in calibre's Linux mount helper allows local users to execute arbitrary programs as root through a crafted PATH. The setuid helper calls execlp for mount, unmount, and eject without an absolute path, so it resolves attacker-supplied executables through PATH. A local account and an installation retaining the root-owned setuid helper are required; successful exploitation grants root command execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2011-4125
Published
Oct 27, 2021
Updated
Aug 7, 2024
Vendor
Kovid Goyal
Product
calibre
Classifications
CWE-426, T1574.007
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

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-426Untrusted Search Path
T1574.007PATH Interception by PATH Environment Variable

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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