CVE-2026-63037 in InLong
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2026
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in Apache InLong. This appears to allow SQL injection in the ORDER BY clause against the Manager backend database.
This issue affects Apache InLong: from 2.0.0 before 2.4.0.
Users are advised to upgrade to Apache InLong's 2.4.0 or cherry-pick [1] to solve it.
[1] https://github.com/apache/inlong/issues/12079 .
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2026
The vulnerability identified as Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command, commonly known as SQL Injection, affects the Apache InLong data integration platform within version ranges from 2.0.0 up to but not including 2.4.0. This specific flaw resides in the Manager backend component and is triggered through improper handling of user-supplied input within the ORDER BY clause of database queries. Unlike standard parameterized query vulnerabilities where values are injected into WHERE clauses, this issue exploits a more nuanced aspect of SQL syntax where dynamic column names or sort orders are constructed directly from unvalidated inputs without sufficient sanitization or whitelisting mechanisms.
From a technical perspective, the root cause lies in how the application constructs SQL statements for sorting data retrieved from the backend database. When an end-user requests sorted results, typically via API calls to the Manager interface, the system accepts parameters intended to define the sort key and direction. Instead of validating these inputs against a predefined list of allowed column names or using prepared statements that properly escape such structural elements, the application concatenates them directly into the SQL query string. This allows an attacker who can control the input for sorting criteria to inject arbitrary SQL code. By manipulating the ORDER BY clause, an adversary can alter the logic of the database command, potentially bypassing authentication checks, extracting sensitive data from other tables through error-based or blind techniques, or even executing administrative commands if the database user has elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant given Apache InLong's role in managing and orchestrating large-scale data pipelines. The Manager component serves as the central control plane for configuring sources, sinks, and tasks within the platform. A successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive configuration details, including connection strings, credentials stored in database fields, or internal topology information that reveals network architecture. Furthermore, an attacker might use this vector to perform Denial of Service attacks by crafting queries that cause excessive resource consumption on the backend database, such as through complex subqueries injected into the sort logic. The ability to read arbitrary data compromises the confidentiality and integrity of the entire data integration ecosystem managed by InLong.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command, specifically highlighting risks associated with dynamic query construction where input validation is insufficient for structural components like column identifiers or sort orders. It also maps to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059, Command and Scripting Interpreter, as the injection allows execution of arbitrary database commands that can be leveraged for further lateral movement or data exfiltration within the infrastructure supporting the InLong deployment. The specific context of ORDER BY injection is often overlooked in standard static analysis tools because it requires understanding SQL syntax semantics rather than just string escaping rules.
To mitigate this risk, organizations running Apache InLong versions prior to 2.4.0 are strongly advised to upgrade immediately to version 2.4.0 or later, where the issue has been resolved by implementing strict input validation and safe query construction practices for sorting parameters. For environments that cannot undergo an immediate full upgrade due to operational constraints, it is recommended to cherry-pick the fix referenced in Apache InLong GitHub issue #12079. Additionally, as a defensive measure while patching, administrators should ensure that the database user account used by the Manager backend operates with minimal privileges, restricting access only to necessary tables and disabling dangerous functions like xp_cmdshell or similar execution capabilities if applicable. Network-level controls such as Web Application Firewalls may also help detect and block malformed SQL patterns in HTTP requests targeting the Manager API endpoints, although this is not a substitute for proper code remediation.