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CVE-2026-48528 – Unauthenticated SQL Injection (RCE-level data compromise) – Metacat 2.0.0 through 3

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Summary

CVE-2026-48528 is a critical, unauthenticated SQL injection vulnerability in Metacat, the NCEAS data repository software. The nodeId parameter of the /cn/v1/object and /cn/v2/object REST API endpoints is passed to backend PostgreSQL queries without sanitization, allowing remote attackers to extract or manipulate database contents without any credentials. It carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (Critical).

Technical details

  • Root cause: user-supplied input in the nodeId parameter is concatenated into a SQL query without sanitization or parameterization.
  • Trigger conditions: sending a crafted request to the /cn/v1/object or /cn/v2/object REST endpoints; PostgreSQL error messages are reflected back and can be leveraged to exfiltrate data.
  • Attack vector: network-based, no authentication or user interaction required.
  • Impact: extraction of arbitrary data from the underlying PostgreSQL database, and unauthorized modification or deletion of data (confidentiality, integrity, and availability all fully impacted).

Affected software

  • Metacat versions 2.0.0 through 3.4.0 (inclusive)

Severity

  • CVSS v3.1 Base Score: 9.8 (Critical)
  • Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Mitigation and recommended actions

  • Immediate: upgrade to Metacat version 3.4.1 or later, which resolves the SQL injection issue.
  • If patching is not immediately possible: disable the vulnerable CN REST endpoints by removing the /d1/cn/v1/ and /d1/cn/v2/ servlet mappings from the application’s web.xml deployment configuration.

How IONIX identifies potentially affected assets

IONIX matches the following signals against data already collected when it crawled the asset; identifying the technology sends no request beyond that crawl.

  • Page title: Metacat Configuration
  • Raw response body: /docs/_static/metacat-logo-darkgray.png (or white variant), id="metacatui-app"
  • JavaScript object present once the page runs: Got token; sending login request to metacat

References

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How IONIX’s External Exposure Management Platform Detects and Validates
Zero-Days to Shrink MTTR

1

Map your entire attack surface (continously)

IONIX uses multi-factor discovery methods, including DNS analysis, certificate mapping, metadata inspection, and more, to automatically map every internet-facing asset across your environment. This includes cloud instances, third-party platforms, shadow IT, and even forgotten infrastructure that traditional tools miss.

2

Monitor for new CVEs

Dozens of threat intel feeds using agentic technology are continuously analyzed to detect the appearance of proof-of-concept code, exploit kits, and indicators of active targeting. IONIX goes further by applying AI to proactively evaluate whether emerging vulnerabilities are likely to be exploited, even before PoCs go public.

3

Identify Potential External Exposures

Not all CVEs matter. IONIX filters vulnerabilities by asking attacker-centric questions: Can it be reached from the internet? Does it require authentication? Is it being exploited in the wild? This dramatically reduces noise and focuses teams on threats that can actually be weaponized.

4

Create Safe, Scalable Exploit Validations

IONIX transforms real-world PoCs into safe, non-intrusive test payloads that can be run in production environments without disruption. These simulations are precisely targeted to the systems that are vulnerable, ensuring rapid validation without unnecessary load.

5

Execute Exploit Validations

By combining context about software stack, versioning, exposure status, and reachability, IONIX ensures that only the right payloads are executed against the right assets, maximizing efficiency and minimizing risk.

6

Drive Fast and Actionable Remediation

Results are routed through integrations with ticketing, SOAR, and SIEM tools. Issues are written in plain language, bundled into remediation clusters, and prioritized based on asset criticality, exploitability, and blast radius. This shortens mean time to remediation (MTTR) and empowers teams to act with confidence.

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  • Identification of potentially exposed assets to this CVE
  • Confirmation of verified exploitable assets
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