Apache Flink up to 1.20.3/2.0.1/2.1.1/2.2.0 TaskManagers code injection

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Apache Flink up to 1.20.3/2.0.1/2.1.1/2.2.0. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component TaskManagers. This manipulation causes code injection. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-35194. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Apache Flink up to 1.20.3/2.0.1/2.1.1/2.2.0 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown function of the component TaskManagers. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a code injection vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-94. The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Code injection in SQL code generation in Apache Flink 1.15.0 through 1.20.x and 2.0.0 through 2.x allows authenticated users with query submission privileges to execute arbitrary code on TaskManagers via maliciously crafted SQL queries. The vulnerability affects JSON functions (1.15.0+) and LIKE expressions with ESCAPE clauses (1.17.0+). User-controlled strings are interpolated into generated Java code without proper escaping, allowing attackers to break out of string literals and inject arbitrary expressions. Users are recommended to upgrade to either version 1.20.4, 2.0.2, 2.1.2 or 2.2.1, which fixes this issue.

The weakness was shared by Yaswant Katakam. The advisory is shared at lists.apache.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-35194 since 04/01/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 05/21/2026). MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1059 for this issue.

Upgrading to version 1.20.4, 2.0.2, 2.1.2 or 2.2.1 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2026-30550). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

Vendor

• Apache

Name

• Flink

Version

• 1.20.0
• 1.20.1
• 1.20.2
• 1.20.3
• 2.0
• 2.0.0
• 2.0.1
• 2.1
• 2.1.0
• 2.1.1
• 2.2.0

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.apache.org/

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If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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