CVE-2026-25076 Overview
CVE-2026-25076 is a SQL Injection vulnerability affecting Anchore Enterprise versions prior to 5.25.1. The vulnerability exists in the GraphQL Reports API, where an authenticated attacker with access to the GraphQL API can inject arbitrary SQL instructions. Successful exploitation allows attackers to modify data contained within the Anchore Enterprise database, potentially compromising the integrity of container security scanning results and policy configurations.
Critical Impact
An authenticated attacker can execute arbitrary SQL commands through the GraphQL Reports API, enabling unauthorized modification of database contents including security scan results, vulnerability data, and policy configurations.
Affected Products
- Anchore Enterprise versions prior to 5.25.1
- Anchore Enterprise GraphQL Reports API component
- Systems exposing the GraphQL API on adjacent networks
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-03-13 - CVE-2026-25076 published to NVD
- 2026-03-16 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-25076
Vulnerability Analysis
This SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) resides in the GraphQL Reports API of Anchore Enterprise. The vulnerability requires adjacent network access and low-privilege authentication to exploit, making it accessible to any authenticated user who can reach the GraphQL API endpoint. The attack does not require user interaction and can result in high confidentiality and integrity impact to the underlying database.
The GraphQL Reports API fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows authenticated attackers to craft malicious GraphQL queries containing SQL injection payloads that are executed directly against the Anchore Enterprise database. The vulnerability specifically affects reporting functionality, where user-controlled parameters are passed unsafely to database queries.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2026-25076 is improper input validation and lack of parameterized queries in the GraphQL Reports API. User-supplied input from GraphQL query parameters is directly concatenated into SQL statements without proper sanitization or the use of prepared statements. This fundamental flaw in input handling allows SQL syntax to be injected and interpreted as part of the database query rather than as data.
Attack Vector
The attack vector requires adjacent network access (meaning the attacker must be on the same network segment or have network adjacency to the target system) and authenticated access to the GraphQL API. Once authenticated, an attacker can submit specially crafted GraphQL queries to the Reports API endpoint. The malicious input bypasses any front-end validation and is processed by the backend SQL query engine.
The exploitation flow involves:
- Authenticating to the Anchore Enterprise platform with valid credentials
- Accessing the GraphQL Reports API endpoint
- Crafting GraphQL queries with embedded SQL injection payloads in report parameters
- Submitting the malicious queries to manipulate database contents
The vulnerability allows modification of database records but does not directly impact system availability according to the CVSS assessment. For detailed technical information, see the VulnCheck SQL Injection Advisory.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-25076
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual or malformed GraphQL queries to the Reports API endpoint containing SQL syntax characters (e.g., ', ", ;, --, UNION, SELECT)
- Database query logs showing unexpected SQL statements or modifications not initiated through normal application workflows
- Anomalous modifications to scan results, vulnerability records, or policy configurations in the Anchore database
- Authentication events followed by rapid API calls to the GraphQL Reports endpoint
Detection Strategies
- Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect SQL injection patterns in GraphQL requests
- Enable detailed logging for all GraphQL API requests, particularly those targeting the Reports API
- Monitor database audit logs for unauthorized UPDATE, INSERT, or DELETE operations
- Deploy runtime application security monitoring to detect SQL injection attempts at the application layer
Monitoring Recommendations
- Configure alerting for GraphQL queries containing common SQL injection keywords and escape characters
- Establish baseline metrics for normal Reports API usage patterns and alert on deviations
- Monitor for failed authentication attempts followed by successful API access to detect credential compromise
- Review database integrity periodically by comparing expected records against actual database contents
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-25076
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Anchore Enterprise to version 5.25.1 or later immediately
- If immediate patching is not possible, restrict network access to the GraphQL API to trusted segments only
- Review database audit logs for any signs of exploitation or unauthorized modifications
- Implement additional authentication controls or API gateway restrictions for the GraphQL endpoint
Patch Information
Anchore has addressed this vulnerability in Anchore Enterprise version 5.25.1. Organizations should upgrade to this version or later to fully remediate the SQL injection vulnerability. Detailed release information is available in the Anchore Release Notes 5.25.1. The Anchore Platform Overview provides additional context on the affected component architecture.
Workarounds
- Restrict access to the GraphQL Reports API using network segmentation or firewall rules to limit exposure to trusted users only
- Implement API gateway controls to validate and sanitize incoming GraphQL requests before they reach the application
- Enable enhanced authentication requirements such as multi-factor authentication for GraphQL API access
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall with SQL injection detection rules in front of the Anchore Enterprise application
# Example: Restrict GraphQL API access using iptables (adjust network ranges as needed)
# Allow only trusted management network to access GraphQL API port
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8228 -s 10.10.0.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8228 -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
