CVE catalog

CVE-2026-53534

JabRef is a desktop application for managing BibTeX and BibLaTeX libraries. Prior to 6.0-alpha.6, when jabsrv or JabRef's built-in HTTP server is enabled, the GET /better-bibtex/cayw endpoint accepts

[CVE catalog]

Severity
High · CVSS 7.5CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Published
Updated
Source
[NVD] · [CVE record]
EPSS
0.45% · Oct 25, 2026

JabRef is a desktop application for managing BibTeX and BibLaTeX libraries. Prior to 6.0-alpha.6, when jabsrv or JabRef's built-in HTTP server is enabled, the GET /better-bibtex/cayw endpoint accepts an external command query parameter and CAYWQueryParams.getCommand() passes it through CAYWResource.getCitation() into PushToSublimeText.getCommandLine(). On Unix-like systems, PushToSublimeText combines this untrusted cite-command prefix and citation keys into a string executed through sh -c by ProcessBuilder without shell escaping. A client that can cause a localhost request with application=sublime can inject shell metacharacters and execute operating-system commands as the JabRef user when a valid Sublime Text command path is configured and the victim completes the CAYW selection dialog. The built-in server is disabled by default, so exploitation requires the victim to enable it or run jabsrv. This issue is fixed in version 6.0-alpha.6.

Vulnerable and fixed packages

Distribution-reported package versions and fixes. These do not depend on matching against the OpenFactory package catalog.

DistributionPackageReleaseVersionStatus
Debianjabrefsid3.8.2+ds-19not affected
Debianjabrefforky3.8.2+ds-19not affected
Debianjabreftrixie3.8.2+ds-17not affected
Debianjabrefbookworm3.8.2+ds-17not affected

Fixed-version evidence

DistributionPackageTypeReleaseFixed versionUrgencyOriginBugs
DebianjabrefsourcesidNot affectedunimportantNot reportedNot reported
DebianjabrefsourceforkyNot affectedunimportantNot reportedNot reported
DebianjabrefsourcetrixieNot affectedunimportantNot reportedNot reported
DebianjabrefsourcebookwormNot affectedunimportantNot reportedNot reported

OpenFactory catalog packages

[Debian 12 (Bookworm)]

  • [jabref]Not affected
    Details (2)
    • 3.8.2+ds-17 · all · bookworm

      Not affected

      nvd · jabref · debian · bookworm

    • 3.8.2+ds-17 · all · bookworm

      Not affected

      nvd · jabref · debian · bookworm

Observed:

References