Read-only bypass in DBHub MySQL and MariaDB connectors via comment parsing
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Fixed
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from GitHub. Impact type from CWE-863.
Summary
DBHub's read-only SQL check on its MySQL and MariaDB connectors can be bypassed because the parser treats "--" as a comment even when MySQL and MariaDB do not. A caller in read-only mode can run write and DDL statements such as DROP TABLE, which defeats the protection read-only mode is meant to give when a database is exposed to an AI agent. The check validates each split statement but the connector executes the original string with multiple statements enabled. PostgreSQL is not affected by this path.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-02
Description from the GitHub advisory
The read-only mode can be bypassed on the MySQL and MariaDB connectors. In read-only mode a caller can still execute arbitrary write and DDL statements (for example DROP TABLE), which defeats the protection that read-only mode is meant to provide when a database is exposed to an AI agent. Root cause The problem is a mismatch between how DBHub's SQL parser handles single-line comments and how MySQL and MariaDB actually parse them. In src/utils/sql-parser.ts, scanSingleLineComment treats "--" as the start of a comment no matter what character follows it. MySQL and MariaDB only begin a "--" comment when the two dashes are followed by whitespace, a control character, or the end of the line. Otherwise the dashes are read as two minus signs and the rest of the line is ordinary SQL. The read-only check in src/tools/execute-sql.ts splits the input and validates each statement with isReadOnlySQL, but the connector then executes the original, unmodified string. The MySQL and MariaDB connectors open their connection pool with multipleStatements: true (src/connectors/mysql/index.ts:54 and src/connectors/mariadb/index.ts:53) and run the whole string in a single call. Because of this, the following payload: SELECT 1--1;DROP TABLE victim is seen by DBHub as a single SELECT statement, since everything after "--" is treated as a comment and the read-only check passes. MySQL and MariaDB instead parse it as "SELECT 1 - -1" followed by "DROP TABLE victim" and execute both statements. Proof of concept 1) DBHub's own parser. Running splitSQLStatements and isReadOnlySQL from this repository on the payload returns a single statement and readOnly = true, so the query is allowed in read-only mode. The same code correctly rejects "SELECT 1; DROP TABLE victim", which confirms that the "--1" is what gets through. 2) Execution. Connecting to MariaDB 11.4 with mysql2 and multipleStatements: true (the same option the connector uses) and sending the payload returns 2 for the first statement, which confirms "--" was not treated as a comment, and then drops the table. The table exists before the call and is gone afterwards. Impact Read-only mode is the control operators rely on to let an assistant read from a database without being able to change it. With this bypass, anyone who can influence the SQL the assistant sends, most realistically through prompt injection in content the assistant reads, can perform writes and destructive DDL against MySQL and MariaDB. PostgreSQL is not affected by this path, because it treats "--" as a comment regardless and executes each split statement individually. Affected code (current main, commit e99c3aa9, package version 0.22.3) - src/utils/sql-parser.ts — scanSingleLineComment does not require whitespace after "--" - src/tools/execute-sql.ts — validates the split statements but executes the original string - src/connectors/mysql/index.ts and src/connectors/mariadb/index.ts — multipleStatements: true Suggested fix The most reliable fix is to stop executing the original string: run only the statements that were validated, and disable multipleStatements on the MySQL and MariaDB connections unless it is genuinely required. As defense in depth, make the comment scanner dialect-aware so that for MySQL and MariaDB "--" only starts a comment when it is followed by whitespace, a control character, or the end of the line, similar to the handling already in place for MySQL conditional comments.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | @bytebase/dbhub (npm) | before 0.22.6 | 0.22.6 | Patch available | GHSA-j656-3hf2-fvjc |
- @bytebase/dbhub (npm) Vendor— Affected before 0.22.6 Fixed in 0.22.6 Patch available GHSA-j656-3hf2-fvjc
Remediation
Upgrade @bytebase/dbhub to version 0.22.6 or later, which fixes the flaw.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-02
- Fix · GHSA-j656-3hf2-fvjc @bytebase/dbhub (npm) Fixed in 0.22.6 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-11-02 Threatist record created from GHSA-j656-3hf2-fvjc
References
Sources
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