CVE-2026-72899 in Metabase
Summary
by MITRE • 08/10/2026
Metabase allows an unauthenticated attacker to inject arbitrary SQL via a publicly shared card or dashboard that exposes a field-filter (dimension) parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in the metabase business intelligence platform that enables unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary database commands through publicly accessible shared resources. The vulnerability specifically manifests when users share cards or dashboards that contain field filters or dimension parameters, which are then improperly sanitized or validated before being incorporated into backend database queries. Attackers can manipulate these parameters to inject malicious sql code that gets executed within the database context, potentially allowing full database access, data exfiltration, or even privilege escalation depending on the underlying database permissions.
The technical exploitation occurs through parameter manipulation in shared urls where dimension filters are passed as query parameters without proper input validation or sanitization. When metabase processes these parameters, it fails to adequately escape or encode special sql characters and keywords, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that bypass normal security controls. This vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumerations such as cwe-89 sql injection and cwe-20 improper input validation, representing a classic server-side parameter manipulation attack vector. The attack surface is significantly expanded due to the public nature of shared cards and dashboards, eliminating the need for authentication or authorization to exploit the vulnerability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete database compromise and potential lateral movement within affected environments. An attacker could extract sensitive information from databases including user credentials, financial records, personal identifiable information, or proprietary business data. Depending on database permissions, attackers might also be able to modify or delete data, create new database users, or execute administrative commands that could lead to full system compromise. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on metabase for data visualization and reporting where public sharing is enabled, making it a significant risk for companies handling sensitive datasets.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameter sanitization across all shared resources, including cards and dashboards. Organizations must disable public sharing features for sensitive data or implement robust access controls that verify user authorization before processing dimension parameters. Database query isolation through proper privilege management, where metabase connections operate with minimal required permissions, can limit the damage from successful attacks. Additionally implementing web application firewalls, input validation layers, and regular security scanning can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing automated monitoring for unusual database activity patterns that might indicate sql injection attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices around parameter handling and the need for comprehensive input validation even in seemingly benign user interface elements like field filters and dimension parameters.