Calibre-parallel.exe connecting to links from pdf documents in the background

Falcon312 · 05-29-2023, 08:43 PM

I've noticed that when new pdf files are added to calibre it tries to connect to IP addresses in the background. I assume this has to do with full text indexing but I'm not sure.

I don't know if this is intended behavior, why it's attempting to connect to these addresses, or what it's doing if it's allowed to connect. I'm concerned that this may be a security risk.

I'm on version 6.18

kovidgoyal · 05-29-2023, 11:46 PM

adding a pdf file only reads metadata from it and as far as I know does not require network connections, though it might be loading XML DTDs for validation of the XMP metadata packet. Is there an actual link to docslib.or in the PDF? Opena bug report and attach this PDF.

Falcon312 · 05-30-2023, 12:09 AM

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.

I have had this happen with a number of pdf files I have added from libgen in batches over the last few days - I'll do some more testing this afternoon to find which specific files are causing this behavior and then I'll submit a bug report.

Quoth · 05-30-2023, 08:37 AM

The example IP address is hosting sold by Cloudflare USA.

Falcon312 · 05-30-2023, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

The example IP address is hosting sold by Cloudflare USA.

I'm not concerned about that IP specifically - I'm concerned as to why calibre may be connecting to websites in the background without my knowledge. It's probably not a huge concern, but I'm curious as to what could cause this behavior.

JSWolf · 05-30-2023, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon312

I'm not concerned about that IP specifically - I'm concerned as to why calibre may be connecting to websites in the background without my knowledge. It's probably not a huge concern, but I'm curious as to what could cause this behavior.

Maybe it's due to one of your plugins. Try running calibre with the plugins disabled.

Falcon312 · 05-30-2023, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Maybe it's due to one of your plugins. Try running calibre with the plugins disabled.

That would be worth a try, but if I can't replicate the issue with the plugins installed I won't be able to tell if they were causing the issue.

Falcon312 · 06-03-2023, 07:01 AM

Nevermind, I figured out that it was connecting to the IP addresses when downloading cover images.

Quoth · 06-03-2023, 07:46 AM

I never automatically add covers or metadata.

05-29-2023, 08:43 PM	#1
Falcon312 Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2023 Device: Boox Tab X	Calibre-parallel.exe connecting to links from pdf documents in the background I've noticed that when new pdf files are added to calibre it tries to connect to IP addresses in the background. I assume this has to do with full text indexing but I'm not sure. I don't know if this is intended behavior, why it's attempting to connect to these addresses, or what it's doing if it's allowed to connect. I'm concerned that this may be a security risk. I'm on version 6.18

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05-29-2023, 11:46 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,609 Karma: 28549044 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	adding a pdf file only reads metadata from it and as far as I know does not require network connections, though it might be loading XML DTDs for validation of the XMP metadata packet. Is there an actual link to docslib.or in the PDF? Opena bug report and attach this PDF.

05-30-2023, 12:09 AM	#3
Falcon312 Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2023 Device: Boox Tab X	Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I have had this happen with a number of pdf files I have added from libgen in batches over the last few days - I'll do some more testing this afternoon to find which specific files are causing this behavior and then I'll submit a bug report.

05-30-2023, 08:37 AM	#4
Quoth Still reading Posts: 15,004 Karma: 111111255 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	The example IP address is hosting sold by Cloudflare USA.

06-03-2023, 07:01 AM	#8
Falcon312 Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2023 Device: Boox Tab X	Nevermind, I figured out that it was connecting to the IP addresses when downloading cover images.

06-03-2023, 07:46 AM	#9
Quoth Still reading Posts: 15,004 Karma: 111111255 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	I never automatically add covers or metadata.