CVE-2026-77051 in Syncope
Summary
by MITRE • 09/14/2026
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in Apache Syncope.
An administrator with adequate entitlements can achieve execution of arbitrary SQL via stacked queries, leveraging unsanitized entityKey and opEvent parameters.
This issue affects Apache Syncope: from 3.0.0-M0 through 3.0.16, from 4.0.0-M0 Through 4.0.7, from 4.1.0-M0 through 4.1.2.
Users are recommended to upgrade to version 4.0.8 / 4.1.3, which fix this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2026
The vulnerability identified as Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command represents a critical security flaw within the Apache Syncope identity management platform. This specific instance is classified under Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) ID 89, commonly known as SQL Injection. The root cause lies in the insufficient sanitization and validation of user-supplied input before it is incorporated into database queries executed by the application backend. Specifically, two parameters are implicated: entityKey and opEvent. These inputs are processed directly within dynamic SQL statements without adequate encoding or parameterization mechanisms to neutralize special characters that hold syntactic meaning in Structured Query Language, such as semicolons used for statement termination or quotes used for string delimitation.
An attacker with administrative privileges can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads embedded within the entityKey and opEvent parameters. By leveraging stacked queries, which allow multiple SQL statements to be executed sequentially within a single request, an adversary can bypass intended application logic and execute arbitrary commands against the underlying database infrastructure. This capability transforms what might otherwise appear as standard administrative actions into vectors for unauthorized data access or manipulation. The severity of this flaw is amplified by the fact that it requires only adequate entitlements rather than full system compromise to trigger, making existing authenticated users potential attack surfaces if their credentials are compromised or misused.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exfiltration. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized modification of identity records, deletion of critical configuration data, or even remote code execution depending on the database engine's capabilities and privileges granted to the application’s database user account. For organizations relying on Apache Syncope for centralized identity governance, such a breach undermines trust in the integrity of stored identities and access policies. The affected versions span multiple major release lines, including 3.0.x from M0 through 3.0.16, 4.0.x from M0 through 4.0.7, and 4.1.x from M0 through 4.1.2, indicating a systemic issue in how these specific releases handle input validation for administrative endpoints.
From the perspective of cybersecurity frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving SQL injection attacks aimed at data exfiltration or modification (T1190). The ability to execute stacked queries further enables persistence and lateral movement within the database layer if the DBMS allows access to operating system commands. Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate patching as recommended by the Apache Software Foundation, specifically upgrading to version 4.0.8 for the 4.0 branch or 4.1.3 for the 4.1 branch where these input validation flaws have been addressed through code hardening and stricter parameter handling.
In addition to software updates, defensive measures should include implementing Web Application Firewalls configured with rulesets capable of detecting SQL injection patterns in HTTP parameters. Input validation at the application layer must be reinforced to ensure that only expected data types are accepted for entityKey and opEvent fields. Principle of least privilege should also be enforced strictly within database configurations to limit the potential damage if an injection attempt succeeds, ensuring that the database user account used by Syncope does not possess elevated privileges such as xp_cmdshell access or administrative rights over other schemas. Regular security audits and static code analysis tools can help identify similar patterns in custom integrations or extensions built upon Apache Syncope to prevent recurrence of this class of vulnerability.