# CVE-2018-7889: Deserialization in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening a crafted bookmark file in Calibre.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 8 Mar 2018
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2018-7889, GHSA-7hmv-6p8v-7rmw, MGASA-2018-0399, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-7889

## What is CVE-2018-7889?

CVE-2018-7889 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in n/a, published on 8 Mar 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

gui2/viewer/bookmarkmanager.py in Calibre 3.18 calls cPickle.load on imported bookmark data, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted .pickle file, as demonstrated by Python code that contains an os.system call.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-7889?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Calibre-Ebook Calibre.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-7889?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2018-7889 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-7889 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2011-4124](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4124/): Command injection in Calibre (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2011-4125](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4125/): Privilege escalation in Calibre (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-26064](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-26064/): calibre: Path Traversal Vulnerability Enables Arbitrary File Write and Remote Code Execution (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2026-26065](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-26065/): calibre: Path Traversal can Lead to Arbitrary File Write and Potential Code Execution (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2026-25635](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-25635/): calibre has a Path Traversal Leading to Arbitrary File Write and Potential Code Execution (high 8.6)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-7889 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-7889 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in n/a, published on 8 Mar 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-7889 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-7889/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-7889/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-7889
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-7889
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-7889

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-7889/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.