CVE-2026-35560 in Athena ODBC Driver
Summary
by MITRE • 04/04/2026
Improper certificate validation in the identity provider connection components in Amazon Athena ODBC driver before 2.1.0.0 might allow a man-in-the-middle threat actor to intercept authentication credentials due to insufficient default transport security when connecting to identity providers. This only applies to connections with external identity providers and does not apply to connections with Athena.
To remediate this issue, users should upgrade to version 2.1.0.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-35560 represents a critical weakness in the Amazon Athena ODBC driver's handling of certificate validation within identity provider connection components. This flaw exists in versions prior to 2.1.0.0 and creates a significant security risk through insufficient default transport security measures. The vulnerability specifically affects connections that utilize external identity providers rather than direct Athena connections, making it particularly relevant for organizations that rely on federated authentication mechanisms. The improper certificate validation process creates an attack surface where malicious actors can exploit the weak transport security to execute man-in-the-middle attacks against authentication flows.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate certificate validation procedures within the ODBC driver's identity provider connection logic. When establishing connections to external identity providers, the driver fails to properly validate SSL/TLS certificates, allowing attackers to potentially present forged certificates that would be accepted by the system. This weakness directly relates to CWE-295 which addresses improper certificate validation and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through phishing and credential theft. The flaw essentially undermines the cryptographic security controls that should protect authentication credentials during transit, creating a pathway for interception and potential credential compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it can enable broader access to organizational resources through compromised authentication flows. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could intercept authentication tokens, session identifiers, and other sensitive credentials that are transmitted during the connection process to external identity providers. This risk is particularly concerning for organizations using cloud-based identity management solutions where the ODBC driver serves as a bridge between on-premises systems and cloud authentication services. The vulnerability essentially creates a trust boundary breach that could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems that rely on these authentication flows, potentially leading to lateral movement and privilege escalation within the network infrastructure.
Organizations should prioritize upgrading to version 2.1.0.0 of the Amazon Athena ODBC driver as the primary remediation measure for this vulnerability. This upgrade addresses the core certificate validation issues by implementing proper SSL/TLS certificate verification procedures and strengthening default transport security settings. Security teams should also consider implementing additional monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns and network traffic that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the updated driver maintains compatibility with existing identity provider configurations while providing the enhanced security protections required to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. Organizations should also review their current identity provider connection configurations to identify any potential exposure and implement proper certificate pinning where appropriate to further strengthen security boundaries.