GHSA-r2f4-ff2p-xc64 Pimcore Platform - SQL Injection in DataObject composite index handling during class definition import/save
My name is Oscar Uribe, Security Researcher at Fluid Attacks. I am reaching out because we have identified a security vulnerability in Pimcore 12.3.3 that we would like to report to you so we can coordinate a responsible disclosure together.As part of our standard disclosure measures, we follow a timeline (outlined at https://fluidattacks.com/advisories/policy), which is aligned with ISO/IEC 29147:2018 and ISO/IEC 30111:2019. In short, the timeline works as follows: we ask for acknowledgment of the report within a few days of your first accessing it, and from there, we are happy to coordinate a joint disclosure date with you, typically within 90 days of the initial discovery. This gives your team reasonable time to assess, develop, and release a fix.We have reserved the CVE ID **"CVE-2026-5394"** for this issue, and the advisory will eventually be published at [https://fluidattacks.com/advisories/dragons](https://fluidattacks.com/advisories/dragons). We are committed to coordinating the timing of that publication with you.Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the report, the process, or the timeline. We are glad to work with you on this.DescriptionAn authenticated administrative user who can import or save DataObject class definitions can inject attacker-controlled composite index metadata and trigger unintended SQL execution in the backend.The vulnerable flow accepts `compositeIndices` from imported JSON, stores the values without strict validation, and later concatenates them directly into `ALTER TABLE ... DROP INDEX` and `ALTER TABLE ... ADD INDEX` statements executed through Doctrine DBAL.Although the original report focused on `compositeIndices.index_key`, independent code review shows that the strongest and most reliable injection point is `compositeIndices.index_columns`, because it is inserted verbatim inside the `ADD INDEX (...)` clause. This permits injection of additional `ALTER TABLE` subclauses against Pimcore object tables without relying on stacked queries.VulnerabilityRoot causeSource:`Pimcore\Model\DataObject\ClassDefinition\Service::importClassDefinitionFromJson()` accepts `compositeIndices` directly from imported JSON.Assignment:`Pimcore\Model\DataObject\ClassDefinition::setCompositeIndices()` does not enforce an allowlist for index names or column names.The only special handling is a ManyToOne relation rewrite to `__id` and `__type`, which is not a security control.Sink:`Pimcore\Model\DataObject\Traits\CompositeIndexTrait::updateCompositeIndices()` builds raw SQL with string concatenation and executes it via `$this->db->executeQuery(...)`.Missing protection:`quoteIdentifier()` is used for the `SHOW INDEXES` query, but not for the dynamic `ALTER TABLE` statements.No server-side schema validation restricts `index_key` or `index_columns` to known safe identifier characters.Confirmed source-to-sink path`importClassDefinitionFromJson()` decodes attacker-controlled JSON and forwards `compositeIndices`.`setCompositeIndices()` stores those values without sanitizing identifier content.`ClassDefinition::save()` reaches `ClassDefinition\Dao::update()`.`Dao::update()` calls `updateCompositeIndices()` for:`object_store_<classId>``object_query_<classId>``Localizedfield\Dao` also calls `updateCompositeIndices()` for:localized query tableslocalized store tablesWhy this is exploitableThe vulnerable `ADD INDEX` statement is built as:`$columnName` is produced from `implode(',', $columns)` and is not quoted or validated. A malicious `index_columns` element such as:produces SQL of the form:This remains a single `ALTER TABLE` statement, so the base vulnerability does not depend on multi-statement support. The attacker can inject additional DDL clauses affecting the target Pimcore object table.ImpactThe issue allows a privileged attacker to alter backend SQL behavior during class-definition import/save and modify schema on Pimcore object tables associated with the affected class.Practical impact includes:unauthorized schema modification on object query/store tablesbackend denial of service by breaking expected table layoutdata integrity impact for DataObject storage and queries`index_key` is also concatenated into SQL without proper identifier escaping, but the most defensible exploitation path is through `index_columns`.Relevant code:`models/DataObject/ClassDefinition/Service.php:92-137``models/DataObject/ClassDefinition.php:994-1006``models/DataObject/Traits/CompositeIndexTrait.php:30-85``models/DataObject/ClassDefinition/Dao.php:217-218``models/DataObject/Localizedfield/Dao.php:945-951`PoCApplication-level PoCPreconditions:valid authenticated administrative sessionability to import or save a class definition containing `compositeIndices`The original report reproduced the issue through an authenticated Studio endpoint:Minimal malicious JSON fragment:Reproduction:Authenticate as an administrator with permission to manage/import class definitions.Export an existing class definition or prepare a valid class-definition JSON document.Replace only the `compositeIndices` section with the payload above.Import the modified definition or save the class through the administrative workflow.Expected result:Pimcore reaches `updateCompositeIndices()` during class save/import.The backend executes an attacker-influenced `ALTER TABLE` statement against the target object table.The affected class table is modified unexpectedly, for example by dropping a column or otherwise changing schema.Minimal source-level confirmationThe behavior is directly visible from the code path:No escaping or allowlist validation is applied to `$columns` before they are interpolated into SQL.Evidence of ExploitationVideo of exploitation:https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/64a49147-12a5-4550-ba22-cb4383523557Static evidence:Our security policyWe have reserved the ID CVE-2026-5394 to refer to this issue from now on.[Disclosure policy](https://fluidattacks.com/advisories/policy)System InformationPimcore Platform
Version `v12.3.3`
Database layer: `doctrine/dbal` `^4.4`
Operating System: AnyReferencesGithub Repository: https://github.com/pimcore/pimcore
Security: https://github.com/pimcore/pimcore/security
CVSS v4.0 score: 7