CVE-2026-12283 in aws-athena-query-federation
Summary
by MITRE • 07/17/2026
Amazon Athena is a serverless, interactive query service that lets you analyze data directly in Amazon S3 using standard SQL. Athena Query Federation is a feature that allows you to connect to data sources outside of Amazon S3 like DynamoDB, Azure Synapse, and custom connectors using standard SQL syntax.
Improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command in the Synapse connector in Amazon aws-athena-query-federation v2022.20.1 through v2026.19.1 might allow an authenticated remote user to execute injected read-only SQL queries that return unintended data from the connected database via a crafted table name.
To remediate this issue, users should upgrade to version v2026.21.1 or later.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2026
This vulnerability affects Amazon Athena Query Federation's Synapse connector and represents a classic sql injection flaw that could enable authenticated attackers to execute unauthorized read-only queries against connected azure synapse databases. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization when processing table names in the federation connector, allowing maliciously crafted table names to be interpreted as sql commands rather than simple identifiers. The flaw exists specifically within the aws-athena-query-federation component version range from 2022.20.1 through 2026.19.1, where the system fails to properly escape or validate special sql characters embedded in table name parameters. This creates a path for authenticated remote users to inject sql fragments that get executed against the underlying synapse database, potentially exposing sensitive data from connected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the way the federation connector processes user-supplied table names during query execution. When a user specifies a table name in their sql query targeting the synapse connector, the system should treat this as a literal identifier but instead processes it through a sql command building mechanism that does not adequately sanitize the input. The attack vector requires authentication to the aws account with appropriate permissions to execute queries against the federation endpoint, making it a privilege escalation issue rather than a direct network-based vulnerability. This aligns with cwe-89 sql injection classification and maps to attack techniques in the mitre att&ck framework under initial access and execution phases, specifically targeting database systems through application interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure as it could potentially allow attackers to enumerate database schemas, extract sensitive information from connected synapse instances, and gain insights into the underlying data architecture. Since the injection occurs at the table naming level rather than full sql command injection, the scope is limited to read-only operations but still represents a significant information disclosure risk. Organizations using aws athena with synapse federation may unknowingly expose data that should remain isolated within their azure environments, particularly if proper access controls are not implemented at multiple layers of the infrastructure stack. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on federated queries across multiple data sources and could potentially be exploited to map database structures or extract data through carefully crafted table name inputs.
The remediation approach requires immediate upgrading to version v2026.21.1 or later, which implements proper input validation and sanitization measures for table names in the synapse connector. Security teams should also implement monitoring for unusual query patterns or unexpected table name formats that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additional mitigations include implementing least privilege access controls for athena federation endpoints, enabling detailed logging of all federation queries, and conducting regular security assessments of federated data access points. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized data access patterns and maintain strict version control policies to ensure all aws services remain updated with the latest security patches. The vulnerability highlights the importance of validating all user inputs at multiple layers in distributed systems architecture and demonstrates how seemingly innocuous interface elements can become attack vectors when proper sanitization controls are missing from complex data federation frameworks.