ProxySQL MCP run_sql_readonly executes side-effecting MySQL multi-statements despite read-only contract
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · High · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
ProxySQL is a proxy for MySQL and its forks, as well as PostgreSQL. In versions 3.0.0 through 3.0.8, ProxySQL's GenAI/MCP `run_sql_readonly` tool violates its documented read-only contract for MySQL targets. The tool validates only the full input string with a substring blacklist and first-keyword allowlist, but then executes the entire SQL string on a backend connection created with `CLIENT_MULTI_STATEMENTS`. As a result, a caller can submit a read-only first statement followed by a side-effecting second statement, such as `SELECT 1; RENAME TABLE ...`. The validator accepts the payload because it starts with `SELECT` and because side-effecting MySQL statements such as `RENAME TABLE`, `SET`, `RESET`, `LOCK TABLES`, and `KILL` are not rejected by the blacklist. In a live MCP runtime test, the `/mcp/query` endpoint accepted a `run_sql_readonly` request. The MCP response reported success for the first `SELECT`, and direct backend verification showed that the table had actually been renamed. This violates the endpoint's read-only security contract and lets an MCP caller perform backend writes or administrative SQL, limited by the configured MCP target account's database privileges. Version 3.0.9 contains a fix. Other operator mitigations include: keeping MCP disabled unless required; setting a non-empty `mcp-query_endpoint_auth` token before exposing `/mcp/query`; restricting MCP listener network exposure; configuring MCP backend target credentials as database-level read-only users; and adding temporary MCP query rules to block obvious multi-statement patterns.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
Remediation
- Fix · CNA proxysql (sysown) Fixed in 3.0.9
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-48774
References
More sysown Proxysql vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-36043 ProxySQL pre-auth heap overflow in MySQL and PostgreSQL first-packet handling CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-36042 ProxySQL: PROXY-Protocol-v1 UNKNOWN parses spoofed source IP, bypassing mysql_query_rules.client_addr ACL CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
Sources
- CVE-2026-48774 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-48774 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- CVE-2026-48774 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences