Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Calibre had input validation flaws in its Linux mount helper that could let a local user inject arguments and gain higher privileges. The supplied sources do not identify exact affected versions, CVSS score, or a confirmed fixed release, so exposure must be verified against vendor and distribution records.
Executive priority
Handle as a moderate local privilege-escalation risk. It is not a broad internet-facing emergency based on the supplied evidence, but it matters on shared Linux systems where a low-privileged user could become more privileged.
Technical view
CVE-2011-4124 is a CWE-20 input validation issue in Calibre's devices/linux_mount_helper.c. The reported impact is argument injection leading to elevation of privileges. The source bundle does not provide affected version ranges, patch identifiers, or exploit prerequisites beyond the helper component and Linux context.
Likely exposure
Likely limited to Linux hosts with Calibre installed and using the vulnerable linux_mount_helper component. Highest concern is shared workstations, developer desktops, lab systems, or multi-user Linux environments. Exact vulnerable versions are not established in the provided evidence.
Exploitation context
CISA KEV is false, and the supplied sources do not prove active exploitation. A public reference labeled as a mount-helper exploit exists, so treat this as publicly documented local privilege-escalation research rather than confirmed in-the-wild exploitation.
Researcher notes
Evidence is thin: NVD-style metadata has no CVSS, no affected version range, and no explicit patch data in the bundle. The strongest facts are the vulnerable Calibre source file, argument-injection class, and elevation-of-privileges impact.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory Linux systems with Calibre installed.
- Check Calibre vendor, Launchpad, and distribution advisories for fixed package versions.
- Upgrade Calibre from trusted vendor or distribution repositories when fixes are available.
- Limit local shell access on systems where vulnerable Calibre versions may remain.
- Remove Calibre from multi-user systems if not operationally required.
Validation and detection
- Confirm installed Calibre versions on Linux endpoints and servers.
- Check whether devices/linux_mount_helper or related helper binaries are present.
- Compare installed packages against vendor or distribution fixed-version guidance.
- Review endpoint logs for unusual local privilege changes around Calibre use.
- Document any systems where version status cannot be confirmed.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-20: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2011-4124 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.zx2c4.com/calibre-mount-helper-exploit/about/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/11/02/2CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://bugs.launchpad.net/calibre/+bug/885027CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://lwn.net/Articles/464824/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Input Validation
Improper Input Validation represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.