CVE-2026-94143 in drogon
Summary
by MITRE • 09/21/2026
A vulnerability was detected in drogonframework drogon up to 1.9.13. Affected by this issue is the function Mapper::orderBy in the library Mapper.h of the component ORM Mapper. Performing a manipulation of the argument sort results in sql injection. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. The exploit is now public and may be used. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2026
The vulnerability identified within drogonframework versions up to 1.9.13 represents a critical security flaw located specifically within the ORM Mapper component, more precisely in the Mapper::orderBy function defined in the Mapper.h header file. This issue stems from an improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command, commonly known as SQL injection. The root cause lies in the application's failure to adequately validate or sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into database queries constructed by the orderBy method. When a developer utilizes this function to sort query results based on external arguments, such as those derived from HTTP request parameters, the framework does not sufficiently escape these inputs. Consequently, an attacker can inject arbitrary SQL code that is executed directly against the backend database server with the privileges of the application's database account.
This vulnerability allows for remote exploitation without requiring any form of authentication or prior interaction beyond standard web traffic, classifying it as a remotely exploitable flaw. The operational impact of this weakness is severe, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data stored within the database, such as user credentials, personal identifiable information, or proprietary business logic. Furthermore, depending on the underlying Database Management System and its configuration, an attacker might escalate privileges, modify existing records, delete critical data, or even execute operating system commands through specific SQL extensions like xp_cmdshell in Microsoft SQL Server. The fact that exploit code is publicly available significantly increases the risk landscape, as automated scanning tools and malicious actors can readily leverage these public exploits to compromise vulnerable instances without needing to develop custom attack vectors from scratch.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which describes Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. It also maps closely to the MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059.004, specifically Subcommand: SQL Commands, under the broader category of Execution and Collection techniques where attackers manipulate database interactions to achieve their objectives. The persistence of this flaw in versions up to 1.9.13 highlights a gap in secure coding practices within the ORM layer, particularly regarding how dynamic sorting parameters are handled. Secure development lifecycle principles dictate that all user inputs must be treated as untrusted and subjected to rigorous validation or parameterized query mechanisms before being used in database operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate upgrading to a patched version of drogonframework where the Mapper::orderBy function has been corrected to properly sanitize input parameters. If an upgrade is not immediately feasible, developers should implement strict allow-listing for sort columns and directions rather than accepting arbitrary strings from user inputs. Additionally, employing parameterized queries or prepared statements wherever possible can prevent SQL injection by separating code from data at the database driver level. It is also advisable to enforce least-privilege principles on the database account used by the application, ensuring that even if an injection occurs, the attacker's ability to perform destructive actions like dropping tables or accessing unrelated databases is restricted. Regular security audits and static analysis tools focused on SQL injection patterns should be integrated into the development pipeline to catch such issues before deployment.