CVE-2026-77810 in Athena Federated Query Neptune Connector
Summary
by MITRE • 08/21/2026
In the Neptune connector, a user with access to Neptune through Athena Federated Query could gain access to properties in the Lambda supplying the compute for the connector. To remediate this issue, users should upgrade to aws-athena-query-federation v2026.30.1 or later.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2026
The vulnerability identified within the Neptune connector leverages a misconfiguration in the integration between Amazon Athena Federated Query and AWS Lambda functions that serve as compute resources for data federation. When users are granted access to query an Amazon Neptune graph database through Athena, they inadvertently gain the ability to interact with the underlying Lambda function architecture. This interaction allows authenticated users to inspect or manipulate properties of the Lambda execution environment, which may contain sensitive configuration details, environment variables, or other metadata that should remain isolated from end-user queries. The core technical flaw stems from insufficient access control boundaries between the Athena query engine and the runtime context of the connected Lambda service, effectively bypassing intended isolation mechanisms designed to protect infrastructure-level configurations from application-layer users.
From a security architecture perspective, this issue represents a classic case of privilege escalation through resource linkage rather than direct exploitation of code logic flaws. The attacker does not need to exploit a buffer overflow or injection vulnerability but instead relies on the excessive permissions granted by default IAM roles associated with the Lambda function used for federation. By querying Neptune via Athena, users trigger execution paths that expose internal state information about the supporting compute layer. This exposure can lead to further reconnaissance activities where an adversary maps out the broader AWS environment, identifies additional services connected through similar federated queries, and potentially uses leaked configuration data to craft more targeted attacks against other parts of the infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on Athena Federated Query to access Neptune databases without managing underlying compute resources directly. If exploited, it could result in unauthorized disclosure of sensitive environmental configurations such as database connection strings, API keys stored in environment variables, or internal endpoint URLs that are not meant to be publicly accessible within the account. In worst-case scenarios, if combined with other misconfigurations like overly permissive IAM policies, this information leakage could facilitate lateral movement across AWS services, leading to broader compromise of cloud workloads and potential data exfiltration from connected systems beyond just Neptune graph stores.
To mitigate this risk, organizations must immediately upgrade the aws-athena-query-federation library to version 2026.30.1 or later as recommended by AWS. This updated release includes hardened access controls that restrict user interactions with Lambda properties during federated query execution. Additionally, security teams should review and tighten IAM policies associated with any Lambda functions used for Athena federation, ensuring they adhere strictly to the principle of least privilege. It is also advisable to audit existing queries executed through Neptune connectors to identify potential exposure windows before patching occurs. Implementing AWS CloudTrail logging specifically for Lambda invocations related to federated queries can help detect anomalous access patterns indicative of exploitation attempts while maintaining visibility into query performance and usage metrics across the organization's data analytics pipeline.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Improper Access Control, as it involves unauthorized exposure of sensitive system properties due to inadequate separation between user-facing interfaces and backend infrastructure components. Furthermore, in terms of MITRE ATT&CK framework mapping, this scenario corresponds to T1505 Server Software Component which describes adversaries installing or using software components for persistence or execution within server environments, although here the focus is on information discovery rather than installation. The exposure also relates to T1602 Data from Cloud Infrastructure as it involves gathering metadata about cloud resources through legitimate but overly permissive query mechanisms that reveal internal architecture details not intended for end-user consumption during standard analytical workflows involving graph databases and federated querying capabilities provided by modern data lake architectures built on AWS services like Athena combined with specialized connectors for NoSQL or graph storage systems.