Vulnerability Database

361,925

Total vulnerabilities in the database

CVE-2026-61667 — DIRAC

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')

Summary

The FileCatalog DatasetManager runs a query on the database and passes the result to eval. The SQL query contains an injection vulnerability which allows an authenticated user to control the parameter returned to the eval resulting in remote code execution.

Details

The FileCatalog checkDataset function passes its datasets argument directly to the backend DB handler: https://github.com/DIRACGrid/DIRAC/blob/f7e0a3ac153315030fb3520e8ca747f013758967/src/DIRAC/DataManagementSystem/Service/FileCatalogHandler.py#L591-L593

Which in turn passes it to the __checkDataset function: https://github.com/DIRACGrid/DIRAC/blob/f7e0a3ac153315030fb3520e8ca747f013758967/src/DIRAC/DataManagementSystem/DB/FileCatalogComponents/DatasetManager/DatasetManager.py#L390

This uses an f-string to create a query without escaping, resulting in an SQL injection: https://github.com/DIRACGrid/DIRAC/blob/f7e0a3ac153315030fb3520e8ca747f013758967/src/DIRAC/DataManagementSystem/DB/FileCatalogComponents/DatasetManager/DatasetManager.py#L400-L402

The result (which is user controllable due to the SQL injection) is passed into eval almost immediately on return, leading to code execution: https://github.com/DIRACGrid/DIRAC/blob/f7e0a3ac153315030fb3520e8ca747f013758967/src/DIRAC/DataManagementSystem/DB/FileCatalogComponents/DatasetManager/DatasetManager.py#L409

There are other functions in the same file which use a similar pattern and would likely be exploitable in a similar way.

Impact

This allows any authenticated user to run commands on the server, which allows a full compromise of the DIRAC system (they can read the local dirac.cfg, get database passwords and export all stored proxies and tokens). If local logging is used, they can also remove evidence of the exploit from the log.

Patched versions:

https://pypi.org/project/DIRAC/8.0.79/ https://pypi.org/project/DIRAC/9.0.22/ https://pypi.org/project/DIRAC/9.1.10/

CVSS v3:

  • Severity: Critical
  • Score: 9.9
  • AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Frequently Asked Questions

A security vulnerability is a weakness in software, hardware, or configuration that can be exploited to compromise confidentiality, integrity, or availability. Many vulnerabilities are tracked as CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures), which provide a standardized identifier so teams can coordinate patching, mitigation, and risk assessment across tools and vendors.

CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) estimates technical severity, but it doesn't automatically equal business risk. Prioritize using context like internet exposure, affected asset criticality, known exploitation (proof-of-concept or in-the-wild), and whether compensating controls exist. A "Medium" CVSS on an exposed, production system can be more urgent than a "Critical" on an isolated, non-production host.

A vulnerability is the underlying weakness. An exploit is the method or code used to take advantage of it. A zero-day is a vulnerability that is unknown to the vendor or has no publicly available fix when attackers begin using it. In practice, risk increases sharply when exploitation becomes reliable or widespread.

Recurring findings usually come from incomplete Asset Discovery, inconsistent patch management, inherited images, and configuration drift. In modern environments, you also need to watch the software supply chain: dependencies, containers, build pipelines, and third-party services can reintroduce the same weakness even after you patch a single host. Unknown or unmanaged assets (often called Shadow IT) are a common reason the same issues resurface.

Use a simple, repeatable triage model: focus first on externally exposed assets, high-value systems (identity, VPN, email, production), vulnerabilities with known exploits, and issues that enable remote code execution or privilege escalation. Then enforce patch SLAs and track progress using consistent metrics so remediation is steady, not reactive.

SynScan combines attack surface monitoring and continuous security auditing to keep your inventory current, flag high-impact vulnerabilities early, and help you turn raw findings into a practical remediation plan.