CVE-2026-108087 in Cocoon
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2026
** UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED ** Improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command ('SQL injection') vulnerability in Apache Cocoon.
This issue affects Apache Cocoon: all versions.
Missing input sanitation would allow arbitrary SQL injection through the SQL processor or sql:/esql: logicsheets.
As this project is retired, we do not plan to release a version that fixes this issue. Users are recommended to find an alternative or restrict access to the instance to trusted users.
NOTE: This vulnerability only affects products that are no longer supported by the maintainer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2026
The identified vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within Apache Cocoon, specifically affecting all versions of this legacy web application framework. The core technical deficiency lies in the improper neutralization of special elements used within Structured Query Language commands. This failure occurs primarily through the SQL processor and the sql:/esql: logicsheets, which are components responsible for handling database interactions. When user-supplied input is processed by these modules without adequate sanitization or parameterization, it allows an attacker to inject arbitrary SQL code into backend queries. This classic injection vector enables malicious actors to manipulate the intended logic of database operations, potentially bypassing authentication mechanisms, extracting sensitive data from underlying databases, modifying existing records, or even executing administrative commands depending on the privileges granted to the application's database account.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which defines Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. The operational impact is severe because it grants unauthorized access to the data layer of the affected system. An attacker could leverage this flaw to perform full read and write operations on the database, leading to significant confidentiality and integrity compromises. In many enterprise environments, such vulnerabilities can serve as a foothold for further lateral movement or data exfiltration campaigns. The risk is exacerbated by the fact that Apache Cocoon has been retired by its maintainer, meaning there are no official patches, security updates, or hotfixes available to remediate this issue within the software itself.
Given the unsupported status of the product, traditional patching strategies are not viable options for mitigation. Security teams must rely on architectural and operational controls to reduce exposure. The primary recommendation is to migrate away from Apache Cocoon to a supported modern web framework that receives regular security updates and maintains active community or vendor support. If migration is not immediately feasible, access control measures become critical. Administrators should restrict network-level access to the instance hosting the vulnerable application, ensuring it is only reachable by trusted users on secure internal networks rather than exposing it to public internet traffic. Additionally implementing a Web Application Firewall can help filter out known SQL injection patterns in HTTP requests, providing an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts while the organization plans for decommissioning or replacement of the legacy system.