CVE-2026-65321

PyAthena SQL Injection via DefaultParameterFormatter DELETE/CTAS

Published Aug 2, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 9.3 Critical EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed

Description

PyAthena prior to 3.35.4 contains a sql injection vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary SQL by exploiting improper quote-escaping in DefaultParameterFormatter.format(), which routes DELETE and CTAS statements to the _escape_hive function that backslash-escapes single quotes rather than doubling them. Because Athena and Trino do not treat backslashes as escape characters inside string literals, attacker-supplied input such as a single quote followed by SQL syntax causes the parser to terminate the string literal prematurely, enabling data exfiltration via UNION SELECT, execution of destructive statements, and attacker-controlled CTAS destination and content.

Analysis

Technical impact

PyAthena prior to version 3.35.4 contains a SQL injection flaw due to improper quote‑escaping in DefaultParameterFormatter.format(). The formatter backslash‑escapes single quotes for DELETE and CTAS statements, while Athena and Trino do not treat backslashes as escape characters inside string literals. Consequently an attacker can supply a payload containing a single quote followed by SQL syntax, causing the parser to terminate the string prematurely and inject arbitrary statements. This enables data exfiltration via UNION SELECT, execution of destructive commands, and manipulation of CTAS destination and content. The flaw is exploitable by unauthenticated attackers.

Affected Systems

PyAthena, a Python client for Amazon Athena and Trino, versions 3.35.3 and earlier. Any environment that uses the library to build DELETE or CTAS queries from user input is vulnerable.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score is 9.3, indicating critical severity. EPSS is not available and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog, yet the high severity suggests a substantial impact if exploited. The likely attack vector involves an unauthenticated user triggering the library, such as through a web application or microservice that passes untrusted input to DELETE or CTAS queries. Because the flaw resides in code executed with the application’s privileges, an attacker can gain data access, modify or delete data, and potentially disrupt service availability.

Affected Products

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions

laughingman7743

PyAthena

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`0`	affected	≤ 3.35.3
`3.35.4`	unaffected	—

No data.

Vendor Product Versions

Laughingman7743

Pyathena

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[0,3.35.3]`	affected	generic	—

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

Upgrade PyAthena to version 3.35.4 or later, which contains the fix for the malformed quote‑escaping.
Ensure that user‑supplied data used in DELETE or CTAS queries is either parameterized or strictly validated; avoid constructing these statements from raw input.
Apply least‑privilege IAM policies to the Athena/Trino credentials so that even if injection occurs, destructive changes are limited, and monitor query logs for suspicious UNION SELECT or destructive syntax to block or alert on potential exploitation.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on August 3, 2026 at 09:12 UTC.

Tracking

Advisories

No advisories available

Metrics

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Attack Requirements None

User Interaction None

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact High

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact High

Vulnerable System Availability Impact High

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact None

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact High

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

Exploit prediction score: < 1% (0.767% probability within 30 days)

Exploitation none

Automatable yes

Technical Impact total

References

Link	Providers
https://github.com/laughingman7743/PyAthena
https://github.com/laughingman7743/PyAthena/security/advisories/GHSA-xwj5-g6cv-4r5c
https://github.com/pyathena-dev/PyAthena/commit/27901d12245ea722b3b4e211c60e2ade4e7c8efd
https://github.com/rahulreddykarne/CVE-2026-65321-pyathena
https://rahulkarne.com/#/cve/CVE-2026-65321
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/pyathena-sql-injection-via-defaultparameterformatter-delete-ctas

History

Aug 6, 2026 10:15 PM Added references View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
References		https://github.com/rahulreddykarne/CVE-2026-65321-pyathena https://rahulkarne.com/#/cve/CVE-2026-65321

Aug 3, 2026 4:30 PM Title updated. Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Title	PyAthena 3.35.4 SQL Injection via DefaultParameterFormatter DELETE/CTAS	PyAthena SQL Injection via DefaultParameterFormatter DELETE/CTAS
Metrics		ssvc `{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}`

Aug 2, 2026 9:00 PM First appearance in the feed. Affected vendors updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
First Time appeared		Laughingman7743 Laughingman7743 pyathena
Vendors & Products		Laughingman7743 Laughingman7743 pyathena

Aug 2, 2026 3:15 PM Description updated. Title updated. Weaknesses updated. Added references. Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Description		PyAthena prior to 3.35.4 contains a sql injection vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary SQL by exploiting improper quote-escaping in DefaultParameterFormatter.format(), which routes DELETE and CTAS statements to the _escape_hive function that backslash-escapes single quotes rather than doubling them. Because Athena and Trino do not treat backslashes as escape characters inside string literals, attacker-supplied input such as a single quote followed by SQL syntax causes the parser to terminate the string literal prematurely, enabling data exfiltration via UNION SELECT, execution of destructive statements, and attacker-controlled CTAS destination and content.
Title		PyAthena 3.35.4 SQL Injection via DefaultParameterFormatter DELETE/CTAS
Weaknesses		CWE-89
References		https://github.com/laughingman7743/PyAthena https://github.com/laughingman7743/PyAthena/security/advisories/GHSA-xwj5-g6cv-4r5c https://github.com/pyathena-dev/PyAthena/commit/27901d12245ea722b3b4e211c60e2ade4e7c8efd https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/pyathena-sql-injection-via-defaultparameterformatter-delete-ctas
Metrics		cvssV3_1 `{'score': 9.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}` cvssV4_0 `{'score': 9.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}`