CVE-2026-12283: Amazon Athena Query Federation SQLi Flaw

CVE-2026-12283 Overview

CVE-2026-12283 is a SQL injection vulnerability in the Synapse connector of Amazon aws-athena-query-federation. Athena Query Federation extends Amazon Athena's SQL query capabilities to external data sources such as Azure Synapse, DynamoDB, and custom connectors. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special characters in table name inputs [CWE-89]. An authenticated remote user can supply a crafted table name to inject read-only SQL statements. The injected queries execute against the connected Synapse database and can return data the user is not authorized to access. Versions v2022.20.1 through v2026.19.1 are affected. AWS released a fix in v2026.21.1.

Critical Impact
Authenticated users can extract unintended data from federated Azure Synapse databases through crafted table names that inject read-only SQL commands.

Affected Products

Amazon aws-athena-query-federation Synapse connector v2022.20.1 through v2026.19.1
Amazon Athena deployments using the Synapse federated connector
Any downstream tooling embedding the vulnerable Synapse connector build

Discovery Timeline

2026-07-17 - CVE-2026-12283 published to NVD
2026-07-20 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-12283

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in how the Synapse connector constructs SQL statements sent to the backend Azure Synapse database. The connector accepts table name identifiers from the calling Athena query and concatenates them into dynamic SQL without adequate sanitization or parameterization. An authenticated user with permission to run federated queries can embed additional SQL syntax inside a table name value. The injected fragment is treated as part of the resulting query, giving the attacker the ability to return data outside the intended query scope. Exploitation is limited to read-only SQL execution against the target database, but the impacted data can include tables, schemas, or metadata the user was not authorized to reach through the federation layer.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command [CWE-89]. The Synapse connector treats table names as trusted identifiers and interpolates them directly into SQL statements. Because identifier handling does not enforce strict allow-lists or bind parameters, quote characters and SQL delimiters embedded in a table name break out of the intended identifier context and become executable syntax.

Attack Vector

The attack requires network access to an Athena environment configured with the Synapse connector and valid credentials to submit federated queries. The attacker crafts a query that references a specially formatted table name containing SQL metacharacters. When the connector builds the downstream query, the injected fragment executes against Azure Synapse and returns data through the normal Athena response path. No user interaction is required beyond authenticated query submission.

No public proof-of-concept exploit is available. Refer to the GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-43cr-4635-mfjp for detailed technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-12283

Indicators of Compromise

Athena query history entries containing table name identifiers with embedded quote characters, semicolons, or SQL keywords such as UNION, SELECT, or --.
Synapse audit logs showing SQL statements originating from the Athena federation service account that reference tables or columns outside the expected federated schema.
Unexpected spikes in row counts returned by the Synapse connector for queries issued by low-privilege Athena users.

Detection Strategies

Enable CloudTrail data events for Athena and correlate StartQueryExecution payloads against a regex that flags SQL metacharacters inside table identifiers.
Ingest Azure Synapse SQL audit logs and alert on statements containing multi-clause UNION or metadata table access issued by the federation connector's identity.
Baseline the schemas each Athena principal legitimately queries and alert on federated queries that deviate from that baseline.

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward Athena and Synapse audit logs into a centralized data lake for cross-source correlation and long-term retention.
Monitor the deployed version of aws-athena-query-federation across accounts to confirm all Lambda-based connectors are running v2026.21.1 or later.
Track IAM principals authorized to invoke the Synapse connector Lambda and alert on new or unusual invokers.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-12283

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade the Synapse connector Lambda deployment package to aws-athena-query-federationv2026.21.1 or later across every AWS account and region.
Review Azure Synapse audit logs for anomalous SELECT activity originating from the Athena federation identity since the connector was first deployed.
Restrict IAM permissions so only vetted principals can submit federated queries through the Synapse data source.

Patch Information

AWS resolved the SQL injection issue in aws-athena-query-federation v2026.21.1. Full remediation details are published in AWS Security Bulletin 2026-059 and the GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-43cr-4635-mfjp. Redeploy the connector Lambda function with the fixed package and update any infrastructure-as-code templates that pin the connector version.

Workarounds

If immediate patching is not possible, disable the Synapse data source in Athena until the connector Lambda is upgraded.
Limit the Synapse database account used by the connector to the minimum tables and schemas required, reducing the data reachable through injection.
Enforce query-layer allow-lists that reject Athena queries whose table identifiers contain characters outside [A-Za-z0-9_].

bash

# Update the deployed Synapse connector Lambda to the patched release
aws lambda update-function-code \
  --function-name AthenaSynapseConnector \
  --s3-bucket awsserverlessrepo-changesets-<region> \
  --s3-key aws-athena-query-federation/v2026.21.1/athena-synapse.zip

# Verify the running version
aws lambda get-function-configuration \
  --function-name AthenaSynapseConnector \
  --query 'Environment.Variables.CONNECTOR_VERSION'