CVE-2020-13926: SQL Injection in Kylin
Summary
CVE-2020-13926: SQL Injection in Kylin. Affects org.apache.kylin:kylin-server-base versions < 3.1.0. Fixed in 3.1.0. How to fix ↓
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Background
Kylin is an open-source distributed analytics engine designed to provide SQL interface and multi-dimensional analysis (OLAP) on Hadoop supporting extremely large datasets. The Kylin server base package is a core component of Kylin that handles the execution of Hive SQL queries. This vulnerability allows an attacker to perform SQL injection attacks by manipulating system configurations that are used in the execution of Hive SQL queries.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability arises from the fact that Kylin concatenates and executes a Hive SQL query in Hive CLI or beeline when building a new segment. Some parts of the Hive Query Language (HQL) used in the query are sourced from system configurations. However, these configurations can be overwritten by certain REST API calls, enabling an attacker to inject malicious SQL code. This can lead to unauthorized access, data leakage, data manipulation, or even remote code execution. The vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS score of 9.8 (Critical severity).
How To Fix
Latest published version: 4.0.4 as of 23 Oct 2026
Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the version below is the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.
If you need the minimum change
3.1.0
This is the first release that contains the fix.
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Workaround
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is recommended to upgrade to the fixed version as soon as possible.
Conclusion
The SQL injection vulnerability in Kylin can have severe consequences, including unauthorized access, data leakage, and remote code execution. It is crucial to upgrade to version 3.1.0 of the org.apache.kylin:kylin-server-base package to mitigate this vulnerability. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
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FAQ
Kylin is an open-source distributed analytics engine designed to provide SQL interface and multi-dimensional analysis (OLAP) on Hadoop supporting extremely large datasets.
SQL injection is a code injection technique that attackers use to exploit vulnerabilities in a web application's database layer. By injecting malicious SQL code, attackers can manipulate the application's database and potentially gain unauthorized access or perform unauthorized actions.
This vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access, data leakage, data manipulation, or even remote code execution. Attackers can exploit the SQL injection vulnerability to execute arbitrary SQL queries, bypass authentication mechanisms, or retrieve sensitive information from the database.
You can use Vulert's playground (https://vulert.com/scanner) to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability. Vulert monitors and alerts in real-time for open-source vulnerabilities in software using just the pom.xml file, without requiring access to the code or installation.
To fix this vulnerability, you should upgrade the org.apache.kylin:kylin-server-base package to version 3.1.0. This version includes the necessary security patches and mitigations to prevent SQL injection attacks.
Related vulnerabilities
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