CVE-2026-65128 in Infrastructure Controller
Summary
by MITRE • 09/22/2026
NVIDIA Infrastructure Controller for Linux contains a vulnerability where an attacker could cause SQL injection. A successful exploit of this vulnerability might lead to code execution, data tampering, denial of service, and information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2026
The NVIDIA Infrastructure Controller for Linux presents a critical security risk due to the presence of a SQL injection vulnerability within its software architecture. This flaw arises from insufficient validation or sanitization of user-supplied input before it is incorporated into dynamic SQL queries executed by the underlying database management system. In typical web application and service architectures, such as those employed by infrastructure controllers that manage hardware resources, network configurations, or virtualized environments, inputs are often passed directly to backend databases without adequate encoding or parameterization. When an attacker crafts malicious input containing SQL metacharacters or commands, they can manipulate the intended query structure, effectively altering its logic to perform unauthorized operations against the database.
The technical mechanism of this vulnerability relies on the interpreter's inability to distinguish between code and data within the SQL statement. By injecting specific sequences such as single quotes, semicolons, or comment markers, an attacker can terminate the original query prematurely and append new commands. This capability allows for a wide range of malicious activities depending on the privileges granted to the database service account running under the NVIDIA Infrastructure Controller context. If the application uses high-privilege accounts with broad permissions, such as db_owner or sa equivalents, the impact is significantly amplified, enabling actions that extend far beyond simple data retrieval.
The operational impact of exploiting this SQL injection flaw is severe and multifaceted. A successful exploit can lead to arbitrary code execution on the host system if the database engine supports features like xp_cmdshell in Microsoft SQL Server or similar command-execution functions in other databases, allowing the attacker to run operating system commands with the privileges of the database process. Furthermore, attackers can perform data tampering by modifying critical configuration files, user credentials, or infrastructure state records stored within the controller's database. This integrity compromise undermines the reliability and trustworthiness of the entire managed environment. Additionally, denial of service conditions may be induced through resource exhaustion techniques such as complex subqueries that consume excessive CPU or memory resources on the database server. Information disclosure remains a primary concern, as attackers can extract sensitive data including proprietary configuration details, network topology maps, user credentials, and potentially cryptographic keys used for securing communications within the infrastructure.
From an industry standards perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command, which categorizes flaws where software does not properly neutralize special elements that could alter command semantics. In terms of attack vectors and tactics, this scenario maps to MITRE ATT&CK techniques such as T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter if code execution is achieved via database extensions, or T1213 Data from Information Repositories for data exfiltration scenarios. The vulnerability represents a classic injection flaw that persists due to legacy coding practices or insufficient implementation of modern secure development lifecycle principles during the software engineering phase of the NVIDIA Infrastructure Controller.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary technical fix involves implementing parameterized queries or prepared statements for all database interactions, ensuring that user input is treated strictly as data rather than executable code. Input validation should also be enforced using allow-listing techniques to restrict acceptable characters and formats before any processing occurs. For existing deployments, applying the latest vendor patches provided by NVIDIA is essential to resolve this specific flaw in the software binary or library components responsible for database communication. Network-level controls such as Web Application Firewalls can provide a temporary layer of defense by detecting and blocking common SQL injection patterns, though they are not a substitute for code-level fixes. Furthermore, adhering to the principle of least privilege is critical; ensuring that the application connects to the database using an account with minimal necessary permissions limits the potential blast radius even if exploitation occurs. Regular security audits, static analysis testing during development, and penetration testing focused on injection flaws will help prevent similar vulnerabilities in future iterations of infrastructure management software.