CVE-2026-63637 in Dgraph
Summary
by MITRE • 08/07/2026
Dgraph is an open source distributed GraphQL database. Prior to 25.3.8, maybeQuoteArg in graphql/resolve/query_rewriter.go passes regexp filter strings into generated DQL without quoting or validating the /pattern/flags form, allowing crafted GraphQL query or mutation filters to inject DQL operators, disclose unintended nodes, or expand modification and deletion targets. This issue is fixed in version 25.3.8.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2026
Dgraph represents a significant security vulnerability within its GraphQL database implementation that affects versions prior to 25.3.8. The flaw resides in the maybeQuoteArg function located in graphql/resolve/query_rewriter.go, which handles the processing of regular expression filter strings within GraphQL queries and mutations. This function fails to properly sanitize or validate regex patterns that follow the /pattern/flags format before incorporating them into generated DQL (Dgraph Query Language) statements. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that should have prevented direct injection of malicious regex constructs into the underlying query execution engine.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted GraphQL queries or mutations that contain specially constructed regular expression patterns. When these patterns are processed by the vulnerable maybeQuoteArg function, the regex filters bypass normal validation procedures and get directly embedded into DQL statements without proper escaping or sanitization. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary DQL operators and syntax elements that were not intended by the application's design. The consequence of such injection can manifest in several ways including unauthorized data disclosure where attackers can access nodes and data they should not have visibility to, as well as expanding the scope of modification and deletion operations beyond their intended boundaries.
This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-1035 which addresses the improper neutralization of special elements used in regular expressions, and represents a classic case of regex injection that can escalate to privilege escalation or data exposure scenarios. The operational impact extends beyond simple query manipulation as attackers can potentially leverage this weakness to perform unauthorized data retrieval operations, modify or delete records across broader dataset scopes than permitted by normal access controls, and could even facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as blind SQL injection patterns within the database layer. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to TA0005 (Defense Evasion) and TA0006 (Credential Access) through its ability to bypass security controls and potentially expose sensitive data.
The remediation implemented in version 25.3.8 involves strengthening input validation mechanisms within the maybeQuoteArg function to properly sanitize regex patterns before they are incorporated into DQL statements. This includes implementing proper escaping of special regex characters, validating pattern syntax, and ensuring that all filter strings are appropriately quoted or escaped before database execution. Organizations should immediately upgrade to version 25.3.8 or later to mitigate this vulnerability, while also implementing monitoring for suspicious GraphQL query patterns that might indicate attempted exploitation. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing additional layers of input validation at the application level and conducting thorough penetration testing to identify any potential secondary impacts from this vulnerability in custom implementations or third-party integrations.