CVE-2026-52691: Apache Griffin Hive Metastore SQL Injection

CVE-2026-52691 Overview

CVE-2026-52691 is a SQL Injection vulnerability [CWE-89] in the Apache Griffin Hive Metastore Module. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. All versions of the Apache Griffin Hive Metastore Module are affected.

Apache Griffin is a retired project. The Apache Software Foundation does not plan to release a fix. Users must migrate to an alternative or restrict instance access to trusted users only. Authenticated attackers with low privileges can send crafted SQL payloads over the network to compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the underlying data store.

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can inject arbitrary SQL statements against the Hive Metastore backend, exposing or altering metadata and potentially executing further attacks against connected data stores. No patch will be issued.

Affected Products

Apache Griffin Hive Metastore Module - all versions
Project status: retired by the Apache Software Foundation
No fixed version available

Discovery Timeline

2026-09-04 - CVE-2026-52691 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-09-04 - Disclosure posted to the Openwall OSS-Security list and Apache announcements list
2026-09-08 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-52691

Vulnerability Analysis

Apache Griffin is a data quality service for distributed data systems, and its Hive Metastore Module interacts with the Hive Metastore to retrieve schema and partition metadata. The vulnerability arises when user-controlled input is concatenated into SQL statements without proper parameterization or escaping.

An attacker with valid low-privilege credentials can submit crafted input that alters the intended SQL query structure. Because the attack vector is network-based and requires no user interaction, exploitation can be automated against exposed Griffin deployments. The impact spans confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the metadata store and any data reachable from the compromised database connection.

Since Apache Griffin is retired, no official patch will be released. Organizations still running the software carry permanent risk unless they remove the deployment or fully isolate it.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands [CWE-89]. Query construction in the Hive Metastore Module concatenates untrusted input directly into SQL strings rather than using parameterized queries or prepared statements. This allows metacharacters such as single quotes, semicolons, and comment sequences to break out of the intended query context.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires network access to a Griffin instance and valid low-privilege credentials. The attacker submits crafted input through Griffin request parameters that reach the Hive Metastore Module query builders. The injected SQL executes with the privileges of the Griffin service account against the metastore database, enabling data extraction, modification, or denial of service.

Refer to the Apache Mailing List Thread and the Openwall OSS-Security Notice for the original disclosure details. No public proof-of-concept exploit has been published at time of writing.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-52691

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected SQL error messages in Griffin application logs referencing syntax errors, unterminated strings, or unknown columns.
Metastore database query logs containing UNION SELECT, stacked queries with ;, or SQL comment markers (--, /*) originating from Griffin service accounts.
Anomalous outbound queries from the Griffin service account accessing tables outside normal metadata scope.
Authentication events for low-privilege Griffin accounts from unexpected source addresses.

Detection Strategies

Enable SQL query auditing on the Hive Metastore backend database and alert on syntactically abnormal statements from the Griffin service account.
Deploy a web application firewall in front of Griffin with SQL injection signatures tuned for the module's request parameters.
Correlate Griffin HTTP access logs with metastore query logs to attribute injected queries back to the originating request.

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward Griffin application, web server, and metastore database logs to a centralized analytics platform for correlation and retention.
Alert on any use of Apache Griffin in the environment given its retired status and lack of vendor support.
Monitor network flows to and from Griffin hosts, flagging any exposure outside a trusted administrative network segment.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-52691

Immediate Actions Required

Inventory all Apache Griffin Hive Metastore Module deployments and treat them as end-of-life software with no upstream patch pipeline.
Restrict network access to Griffin instances to a small set of trusted administrative hosts using firewall rules or network policies.
Rotate credentials used by Griffin to connect to the Hive Metastore and reduce the associated database account to the minimum required privileges.
Plan migration to an actively maintained data quality alternative on a defined timeline.

Patch Information

No patch is available. The Apache Software Foundation has retired the Griffin project and explicitly stated that no fix will be released for this vulnerability. Refer to the Apache Mailing List Thread for the official statement.

Workarounds

Decommission Apache Griffin and migrate to a supported data quality framework.
If temporary operation is unavoidable, place Griffin behind an authenticated reverse proxy accessible only from a jump host or bastion.
Enforce least-privilege database permissions on the metastore account used by Griffin, removing write access to non-essential tables.
Disable or block any Griffin API endpoints that are not strictly required for current business processes.