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CVE-2026-48188 is an improper input validation vulnerability in the OTRS database layer module. OTRS sanitization relies on backslash-based escaping, which fails when the backend MySQL or MariaDB server uses the NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES SQL mode. Crafted attacker-controlled input can then alter the intended SQL query structure before authentication, enabling SQL injection and potential authentication bypass. Affected releases include OTRS 7.0.X, 8.0.X, 2023.X through 2025.X, 2026.X before 2026.4.X, and ((OTRS)) Community Edition 6.0.x. Products derived from ((OTRS)) Community Edition are also likely affected.
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1 valid exploit after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos.
This repository is a small, focused proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2026-48188. It contains only two files: a minimal README and a single Python exploit script, otrs_RCE_mariadb_sqli.py. The script is a complete exploit rather than a detector. The exploit chain has two main stages. First, it abuses a SQL injection condition in the OTRS login flow by supplying a crafted username containing a UNION SELECT. The injected row includes hardcoded values intended to satisfy authentication and impersonate an administrative user. The helper function encode() converts strings into MariaDB CHAR(...) expressions, likely to avoid quoting issues. The script explicitly notes that MariaDB/MySQL should have NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES enabled, indicating a dependency on SQL parsing behavior. Second, after successful login, the script abuses OTRS package-management functionality. It requests the AdminPackageManager page, extracts CSRF-related fields such as ChallengeToken and FormID, and uploads a malicious .opm package defined inline as XML. That package contains a Perl CodeInstall block which executes an arbitrary shell command using Perl backticks. If not run in silent mode, the package writes command output to a predictable web-served location under the OTRS static web root, and the Python script then fetches /otrs-web/output.txt to display the result. The script also includes cleanup logic: it attempts to uninstall the malicious package before and after execution, and logs out at the end. Overall, the repository’s purpose is authenticated remote command execution on vulnerable OTRS 6.0.x deployments backed by MariaDB/MySQL, using SQL injection to gain admin access and package installation hooks to run arbitrary OS commands.
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Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.
7 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.
A network-accessible vulnerability with low attack complexity and no privileges or user interaction required. The supplied CVSS v3 vector indicates high confidentiality and integrity impact, with no availability impact.
An unauthenticated SQL injection vulnerability in the OTRS database layer that can enable authentication bypass when MySQL or MariaDB is configured with NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES.
Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.
Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.
Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.
YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.
Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.
Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.