CVE-2026-35558 Overview
CVE-2026-35558 is a command injection vulnerability affecting the Amazon Athena ODBC driver versions prior to 2.1.0.0. The vulnerability exists due to improper neutralization of special elements in the authentication components of the driver, which could allow a threat actor to execute arbitrary code or redirect authentication flows by using specially crafted connection parameters that are processed during user-initiated authentication.
This vulnerability is classified as CWE-77 (Command Injection), where untrusted input containing special characters or command sequences is passed to authentication components without proper sanitization, potentially allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary commands on the affected system.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation could enable arbitrary code execution on systems using vulnerable Amazon Athena ODBC driver versions, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within cloud environments.
Affected Products
- Amazon Athena ODBC Driver versions before 2.1.0.0 (Windows)
- Amazon Athena ODBC Driver versions before 2.1.0.0 (Linux)
- Amazon Athena ODBC Driver versions before 2.1.0.0 (macOS Intel and ARM)
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-04-03 - CVE-2026-35558 published to NVD
- 2026-04-07 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-35558
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the authentication components of the Amazon Athena ODBC driver. When processing connection parameters during user-initiated authentication, the driver fails to properly neutralize special elements within the input. This improper input validation creates an injection point that attackers can exploit to execute arbitrary commands or manipulate authentication flows.
The local attack vector requires some level of user interaction, as the exploitation occurs during the authentication process. An attacker would need to craft malicious connection parameters that, when processed by the vulnerable driver, execute unintended commands with the privileges of the application using the ODBC driver.
Organizations using the Athena ODBC driver for business intelligence tools, data analytics applications, or custom applications connecting to AWS Athena should prioritize remediation to prevent potential code execution attacks.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2026-35558 is improper neutralization of special elements (CWE-77) within the authentication component's input handling. The driver does not adequately sanitize or escape special characters in connection parameters before processing them, allowing command injection through specially crafted input strings. This design flaw enables attackers to break out of the intended parameter context and inject executable commands.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is local, requiring the attacker to have access to configure or influence connection parameters used by applications leveraging the vulnerable ODBC driver. Exploitation requires user interaction, as the vulnerability is triggered during the authentication process. An attacker could:
- Craft malicious ODBC connection strings containing command injection payloads
- Distribute these connection strings through phishing, configuration file manipulation, or supply chain attacks
- When a user initiates an authentication using the malicious parameters, the injected commands execute in the context of the application
The vulnerability allows attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code, redirect authentication to attacker-controlled endpoints, or intercept credentials during the authentication process. For detailed technical information, refer to the AWS Security Bulletin 2026-013.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-35558
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected process spawning from applications using Amazon Athena ODBC connections
- Anomalous command-line arguments containing special characters in ODBC-related processes
- Unusual outbound network connections from data analytics or BI applications
- Authentication failures followed by unexpected system behavior
Detection Strategies
- Monitor for suspicious command-line patterns in processes that utilize ODBC drivers, particularly those containing shell metacharacters or escape sequences
- Implement application whitelisting to detect unauthorized child processes spawned from analytics applications
- Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify command injection patterns in ODBC connection handling
- Review ODBC connection logs for malformed or suspicious connection parameter strings
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed logging for applications utilizing Amazon Athena ODBC connections
- Configure SentinelOne to alert on behavioral indicators associated with command injection attacks
- Monitor system call activity from applications using the Athena ODBC driver for unusual patterns
- Implement network monitoring to detect unexpected authentication redirections
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-35558
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Amazon Athena ODBC driver to version 2.1.0.0 or later on all affected systems immediately
- Audit all systems using Amazon Athena ODBC drivers to identify vulnerable versions
- Review and validate ODBC connection configurations for any suspicious parameters
- Implement input validation at the application layer as a defense-in-depth measure
Patch Information
AWS has released Amazon Athena ODBC driver version 2.1.0.0 to address this vulnerability. The updated driver includes proper sanitization of special elements in authentication components. Organizations should download the appropriate driver for their platform:
- Windows: Amazon Athena ODBC Windows Driver
- Linux: Amazon Athena ODBC Linux Driver
- macOS Intel: Amazon Athena ODBC Mac Intel Driver
- macOS ARM: Amazon Athena ODBC Mac ARM Driver
For additional details, refer to the AWS Athena ODBC Driver Release Notes.
Workarounds
- Restrict access to ODBC configuration files and connection string management to authorized personnel only
- Implement strict input validation on any application-level parameters passed to ODBC connections
- Use network segmentation to limit the potential impact of compromise on systems running the vulnerable driver
- Consider temporarily disabling vulnerable ODBC driver installations until patching is complete in high-security environments
# Verify installed Athena ODBC driver version on Linux
rpm -qa | grep AmazonAthenaODBC
# Upgrade to patched version
sudo rpm -Uvh AmazonAthenaODBC-2.1.0.0.rpm
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
