CVE-2026-41457: OwnTone Server SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2026-41457 Overview

OwnTone Server versions 28.4 through 29.0 contain a SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89) in DAAP query and filter handling that allows attackers to inject arbitrary SQL expressions by supplying malicious values through the query= and filter= parameters for integer-mapped DAAP fields. Attackers can exploit insufficient sanitization of these parameters to bypass filters and gain unauthorized access to media library data.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability over the network to bypass access controls and extract sensitive media library data from affected OwnTone Server installations.

Affected Products

• OwnTone Server version 28.4
• OwnTone Server version 28.x (28.4 and later)
• OwnTone Server version 29.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-04-22 - CVE CVE-2026-41457 published to NVD
• 2026-04-22 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-41457

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability exists in the DAAP (Digital Audio Access Protocol) query and filter handling logic within OwnTone Server. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation when processing user-supplied values in the query= and filter= parameters, specifically for integer-mapped DAAP fields.

When an attacker crafts a malicious request containing SQL metacharacters or expressions within these parameters, the server fails to properly sanitize the input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows the injection of arbitrary SQL expressions that can manipulate the database query logic, potentially enabling unauthorized data access or filter bypass.

The attack can be executed remotely over the network without requiring authentication, making it accessible to any attacker who can reach the OwnTone Server service.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is insufficient input sanitization in the DAAP query and filter parameter handling code. When processing integer-mapped DAAP fields, the application does not properly validate or escape user-supplied input before constructing SQL queries, allowing malicious SQL expressions to be injected and executed against the underlying database.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring no user interaction or prior authentication. An attacker can send crafted HTTP requests to the OwnTone Server's DAAP interface containing malicious payloads in the query= or filter= parameters. The server processes these parameters without adequate validation, allowing the attacker to inject SQL expressions that bypass intended access controls and retrieve unauthorized data from the media library database.

The vulnerability can be exploited by manipulating integer-mapped fields within DAAP requests, where the lack of proper input sanitization allows SQL syntax to be interpreted as part of the query structure rather than as literal data values.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-41457

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or malformed HTTP requests to DAAP endpoints containing SQL syntax characters such as single quotes, double dashes, semicolons, or UNION statements in query= or filter= parameters
• Unexpected database errors or application crashes originating from DAAP query processing
• Anomalous access patterns to media library data, particularly requests attempting to enumerate or dump large datasets

Detection Strategies

• Deploy web application firewalls (WAF) with SQL injection detection rules targeting DAAP endpoints
• Implement application-layer monitoring to detect SQL injection patterns in HTTP request parameters
• Enable detailed logging for DAAP query processing and monitor for SQL error messages or unexpected query patterns
• Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for common SQL injection payloads

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor OwnTone Server logs for SQL syntax errors or database exceptions during DAAP request processing
• Establish baseline network traffic patterns and alert on anomalous request volumes to DAAP endpoints
• Configure alerts for requests containing common SQL injection keywords in URL parameters
• Review database query logs for unexpected or unauthorized data access patterns

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-41457

Immediate Actions Required

• Update OwnTone Server to a patched version that addresses this vulnerability
• Restrict network access to OwnTone Server to trusted networks or hosts only
• Implement network segmentation to limit exposure of the DAAP service
• Deploy a web application firewall with SQL injection protection in front of OwnTone Server

Patch Information

A fix for this vulnerability has been committed to the OwnTone Server repository. The patch is available at commit d4784ebf2099ed1a4203333aee957e5c7553c217. Users should update to a version containing this fix to address the SQL injection vulnerability. For additional technical details, refer to the GitHub Commit Update and the VulnCheck SQL Injection Advisory.

Workarounds

• Restrict access to the OwnTone Server DAAP interface by configuring firewall rules to allow connections only from trusted IP addresses
• Disable external network access to OwnTone Server if remote access is not required
• Deploy a reverse proxy with input validation to filter potentially malicious requests before they reach OwnTone Server
• Monitor and rate-limit requests to DAAP endpoints to detect and slow potential exploitation attempts

# Example: Restrict OwnTone Server access using iptables
# Allow only local network access to OwnTone default port
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 3689 -s 192.168.1.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 3689 -j DROP