CVE-2026-108963 in databasement
Summary
by MITRE • 10/11/2026
databasement before 1.8.2 allows remote code execution because it runs certain commands (e.g., mariadb-dump) with a database name that can be specified by any authenticated user. For example, --result-file=/app/public/index.php can write to index.php. In other words, quoting prevents OS command injection in mariadb-dump, but the argument injection alone is sufficient for code execution indirectly. NOTE: the project's composer.json file does not indicate an independently published databasement Composer package.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/11/2026
The vulnerability identified in Databasement versions prior to 1.8.2 represents a critical security flaw rooted in improper input validation and argument injection within command-line utility execution. This issue allows authenticated users to achieve remote code execution on the host system, bypassing traditional defenses that might otherwise mitigate direct operating system command injection attacks. The core of the vulnerability lies in how the application constructs arguments for external commands, specifically utilizing tools such as mariadb-dump. While developers may have implemented measures to prevent shell metacharacter interpretation—often referred to as quoting or escaping—the implementation failed to account for argument-level injection vectors inherent to many Unix-like command-line utilities.
In typical secure coding practices, preventing OS command injection involves sanitizing user input to ensure it cannot alter the structure of a system call or shell command string. However, this vulnerability exploits a different attack surface: the arguments passed to legitimate commands. When an authenticated user provides a database name that includes specific flags and values, such as --result-file=/app/public/index.php, they are not injecting code into the command itself but rather manipulating its behavior through valid argument syntax. The application passes these unsanitized or insufficiently validated inputs directly to the underlying binary without adequate restriction on which arguments can be modified by user input. This allows an attacker to redirect output streams to arbitrary file locations within the web server's document root, effectively writing executable PHP code into a publicly accessible script like index.php.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it leads directly to remote code execution with the privileges of the application process. By successfully injecting arguments that write malicious content to a web-accessible location, an attacker can upload backdoors or reverse shells. Once these files are accessed via HTTP requests, the attacker gains full control over the server environment running Databasement. This compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all data managed by the database management tool and potentially extends access to other systems within the network if lateral movement is possible from the compromised host. The fact that this requires authentication does not significantly reduce risk in many enterprise environments where user accounts may be shared or credentials can be obtained through phishing or credential stuffing attacks.
From a standards perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command and more specifically CWE-88 Argument Injection. It also maps to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to command and script interpretation as well as defense evasion through file manipulation. The distinction here is that while the initial vector might not be a classic shell injection, the result is identical: arbitrary code execution via manipulated system commands. Security professionals must recognize that simply quoting inputs or using safe API calls for process creation does not guarantee safety if user-controlled data can still influence argument values in ways unintended by the developer.
Mitigation strategies should focus on strict input validation and least privilege principles. The most effective immediate fix is to upgrade Databasement to version 1.8.2 or later, where this issue has been addressed through improved handling of database name inputs. In cases where upgrading is not immediately feasible, administrators can implement a whitelist approach for allowed characters in database names, rejecting any input containing special symbols such as dashes equal signs or slashes that are commonly used in command-line arguments. Additionally, running the application with minimal system privileges ensures that even if an attacker succeeds in writing to a file, they may lack the permissions necessary to execute it or access sensitive data stored elsewhere on the filesystem. Regular auditing of third-party dependencies and their composer.json configurations is also recommended to ensure transparency regarding package origins and potential supply chain risks associated with unmaintained or unofficially published packages.