CVE-2026-88031 in Go Driver
Summary
by MITRE • 09/10/2026
Improper neutralization of special elements in data query logic in the GridFS component of the MongoDB Go Driver can cause a caller-supplied structured file identifier to be interpreted as a query condition rather than as a literal identifier. An authenticated user who can influence the identifier passed by an affected application may cause all GridFS file chunks in the affected bucket to be removed, rendering stored file content unreadable.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2026
The vulnerability identified involves a critical flaw within the MongoDB Go Driver specifically affecting its GridFS component implementation. This issue stems from improper neutralization of special elements during data query logic processing. In secure software design, user-supplied or caller-influenced input must be strictly validated and sanitized before being incorporated into database queries to prevent injection attacks. However, in this instance, the driver fails to adequately distinguish between a literal file identifier intended for retrieval operations and a structured object that could be interpreted as a query condition. This lack of strict type enforcement allows an attacker who has already gained authentication access to manipulate the input parameters passed by the application using the driver.
When an authenticated user influences the gridFSFileID parameter, they can inject special elements or structures that alter the semantic meaning of the database command. Instead of treating the identifier as a simple string or ObjectId for locating specific chunks, the underlying query logic interprets it as a complex filter condition. This misinterpretation is particularly dangerous because GridFS operations often involve deleting file chunks associated with a given ID to manage storage space during updates or deletions. If the input is parsed as a broad query condition rather than a precise identifier, the database engine may execute deletion commands against unintended targets.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for data integrity. An attacker exploiting this flaw can cause all GridFS file chunks within an affected bucket to be removed indiscriminately. Since GridFS relies on these chunk records to reconstruct stored files, their removal renders the associated file content unreadable and effectively lost unless backups are available. This constitutes a significant denial of service against data availability and represents a severe compromise of confidentiality and integrity for any application relying on MongoDB's GridFS feature for large file storage. The attack does not require privilege escalation beyond existing authentication credentials but demands that the attacker can control or influence the input parameters sent to the vulnerable driver methods.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command and more specifically CWE-94 Improper Control of Generation of Code (Code Injection) as it involves manipulating query logic through injected structures. In terms of attack vectors, it relates to MITRE ATT&CK techniques involving Data Destruction or Impact via database manipulation, leveraging the application's own authentication mechanisms rather than breaking them directly. The root cause lies in insufficient validation and type checking within the driver’s serialization layer before constructing the final BSON document sent to the MongoDB server.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate patching and long-term defensive coding practices. Organizations using the affected version of the MongoDB Go Driver should upgrade to a patched release where this logic error has been corrected by enforcing strict typing for file identifiers. Application developers integrating the driver should implement additional validation layers at the application level, ensuring that any input destined for GridFS operations is verified against expected formats and types before being passed to the library. Furthermore, adopting principle of least privilege principles ensures that database accounts used by applications have minimal permissions, potentially limiting the scope of damage if such an injection were to occur in other contexts. Regular security audits focusing on NoSQL query construction patterns can also help identify similar vulnerabilities across different components of a system architecture.