CVE-2026-5785: ManageEngine PAM360/PMP SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2026-5785 Overview

CVE-2026-5785 is an authenticated SQL injection vulnerability affecting Zohocorp ManageEngine PAM360 versions before 8531 and ManageEngine Password Manager Pro versions from 8600 to 13230. The vulnerability exists in the query report module, allowing authenticated attackers to inject malicious SQL statements and potentially compromise the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive password management data.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to extract sensitive credential data, modify stored passwords, and potentially gain unauthorized access to managed systems and accounts within the enterprise password vault.

Affected Products

• ManageEngine PAM360 versions before 8531
• ManageEngine Password Manager Pro versions 8600 to 13230

Discovery Timeline

• April 16, 2026 - CVE-2026-5785 published to NVD
• April 16, 2026 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-5785

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89) resides in the query report module of both ManageEngine PAM360 and Password Manager Pro products. These privileged access management solutions are designed to store and manage sensitive credentials across enterprise environments, making them high-value targets for attackers.

The vulnerability requires authentication to exploit, meaning an attacker must first obtain valid credentials to access the affected module. Once authenticated, the attacker can manipulate SQL queries through the query report functionality to access unauthorized data or modify database contents.

Given the nature of password management solutions, successful exploitation could result in exposure of stored credentials, API keys, certificates, and other sensitive authentication materials managed by these platforms. The network-accessible nature of these products increases the risk in environments where remote administrative access is enabled.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is insufficient input sanitization and parameterization in the query report module. User-supplied input is incorporated into SQL queries without proper validation or the use of prepared statements, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary SQL commands that are executed by the database engine with the application's privileges.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring authenticated access to the vulnerable ManageEngine products. An attacker with valid credentials can access the query report module and craft malicious input containing SQL injection payloads. These payloads can be designed to extract sensitive information from the database, including stored passwords and credentials for managed systems, or to modify existing records to facilitate further unauthorized access.

The exploitation does not require user interaction and can be executed with low complexity once authentication is achieved. The impact is primarily to confidentiality and integrity, as attackers can both read and write data within the vulnerable database context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-5785

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or malformed requests to the query report module endpoints containing SQL syntax characters
• Unexpected database queries or errors in application logs
• Anomalous data access patterns from authenticated user sessions
• Signs of bulk data extraction from credential storage tables

Detection Strategies

• Monitor web application logs for SQL injection patterns such as single quotes, UNION statements, and comment sequences in query report parameters
• Implement database activity monitoring to detect unusual query patterns or unauthorized table access
• Deploy web application firewalls (WAF) with SQL injection detection rules specific to ManageEngine applications
• Review audit logs for suspicious report generation activity or bulk credential access

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for the query report module and database interactions
• Configure alerts for failed SQL query attempts that may indicate injection probing
• Monitor for unexpected outbound connections that could indicate data exfiltration
• Implement user behavior analytics to detect anomalous patterns in credential access

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-5785

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade ManageEngine PAM360 to version 8531 or later immediately
• Upgrade ManageEngine Password Manager Pro to a version beyond 13230
• Review access logs for signs of exploitation prior to patching
• Audit user accounts with access to the query report module and enforce least privilege principles

Patch Information

ManageEngine has released security updates addressing this vulnerability. PAM360 users should upgrade to version 8531 or later, while Password Manager Pro users should upgrade to a version beyond 13230. Detailed patch information and upgrade instructions are available in the ManageEngine Security Advisory.

Organizations should prioritize this patch deployment given the sensitive nature of data stored in these password management solutions and the potential for credential theft following successful exploitation.

Workarounds

• Restrict network access to the ManageEngine management interfaces to trusted administrative networks only
• Implement strict access controls limiting which users can access the query report module
• Deploy a web application firewall with SQL injection filtering rules in front of affected installations
• Consider temporarily disabling the query report module until patches can be applied if operationally feasible

# Example: Restrict network access to ManageEngine interface (iptables)
# Limit access to trusted admin network 10.0.1.0/24
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 7272 -s 10.0.1.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 7272 -j DROP