CVE-2025-52646 in AION
Summary
by MITRE • 03/16/2026
HCL AION is affected by a vulnerability where certain offering configurations may permit execution of potentially harmful SQL queries. Improper validation or restrictions on query execution could expose the system to unintended database interactions or limited information exposure under specific conditions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-52646 affects HCL AION, a comprehensive application integration and orchestration platform that facilitates enterprise-level data processing and workflow management. This security flaw resides within the platform's offering configuration mechanisms, where specific parameter settings can inadvertently permit unauthorized SQL query execution. The vulnerability represents a critical concern for organizations relying on HCL AION for mission-critical data operations, as it potentially allows malicious actors to exploit improperly validated input parameters to inject and execute harmful database commands. The affected system components include the query processing engine and configuration validation layers that handle user-defined offering parameters, creating an attack surface where insufficient input sanitization enables SQL injection opportunities.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user-supplied parameters within the offering configuration interface. When administrators or users define specific service offerings within HCL AION, certain configuration fields may not properly sanitize or validate input before being processed into database queries. This weakness allows attackers to craft malicious input that bypasses normal validation checks, resulting in unintended SQL command execution. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization. The flaw manifests when the system fails to implement proper input filtering mechanisms, particularly around dynamic query construction where user-provided values are directly concatenated into SQL statements rather than being properly parameterized.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-52646 extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized data manipulation. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive database information, potentially including user credentials, financial records, or proprietary business data. The limited information exposure mentioned in the description suggests that while the initial impact may be constrained, the vulnerability provides a foothold for more sophisticated attacks. Organizations using HCL AION in production environments face significant risk of data breaches, system disruption, and compliance violations, particularly in regulated industries where database security is paramount. The vulnerability could enable attackers to escalate privileges, extract confidential data, or modify system configurations, depending on the database permissions assigned to the application's connection accounts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate implementation of input validation and parameterization controls within the HCL AION platform. Organizations must ensure that all user-provided parameters undergo rigorous sanitization before being processed into database queries, implementing proper escape sequences and parameterized query construction techniques. The platform should enforce strict access controls and input validation rules at multiple layers, including application-level filtering, database-level restrictions, and network-level monitoring. Security patches and updates from HCL should be applied immediately, while organizations should implement additional protective measures such as database activity monitoring, intrusion detection systems, and regular security assessments. The mitigation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which addresses valid accounts and privilege escalation, as this vulnerability could enable unauthorized access to database resources. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security reviews of all offering configurations and implement automated scanning tools to identify potentially vulnerable parameter settings within their HCL AION deployments.