Published: 2025-11-26T09:15:46.293
Overview
This article details CVE-2025-62728, a SQL injection vulnerability discovered in Apache Hive Metastore Server (HMS). This vulnerability can be exploited by authorized users who have access to the HMS Thrift APIs. While its exploitability in typical deployments is limited, understanding the vulnerability and applying the recommended mitigations is crucial for maintaining a secure Hive environment.
Technical Details
CVE-2025-62728 stems from insufficient input sanitization when processing delete column statistics requests via the Thrift APIs in Hive Metastore Server. Specifically, an attacker with access to the Thrift APIs could potentially inject malicious SQL code into the delete column statistics request, leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion within the Hive metastore database.
The vulnerability affects Apache Hive versions 4.1.0 up to, but not including, 4.2.0.
A crucial factor limiting the vulnerability’s scope is that the Thrift APIs are typically not exposed to the general public. Access is usually restricted to a limited number of trusted applications, such as Hiveserver2. Furthermore, the vulnerable code path is not reachable when the `metastore.try.direct.sql` property is set to `false`.
CVSS Analysis
Due to the limited scope of exploitability and the requirement for existing authorized access, a CVSS score has not been assigned for this vulnerability (N/A). The actual risk depends heavily on the specific Hive deployment and the level of access control in place.
Possible Impact
While the CVSS score is unavailable, a successful SQL injection attack could potentially allow an attacker to:
- Gain unauthorized access to sensitive metadata stored in the Hive metastore.
- Modify or delete metadata, leading to data corruption or unavailability.
- Potentially escalate privileges within the Hive environment, depending on the database permissions associated with the metastore user.
However, it’s vital to reiterate that this vulnerability requires authorized access to the Thrift APIs, significantly reducing the attack surface. The impact is heavily dependent on the deployment specifics.
Mitigation or Patch Steps
The following mitigation and patch steps are recommended:
- Upgrade to Apache Hive 4.2.0 or later: This version contains the fix for CVE-2025-62728 and eliminates the SQL injection vulnerability.
- Set
metastore.try.direct.sqlproperty tofalse: If upgrading is not immediately feasible, setting this property disables the vulnerable code path, effectively mitigating the vulnerability. This will force Hive to use the JDO layer instead of direct SQL access. - Restrict access to the HMS Thrift APIs: Ensure that only trusted applications and users have access to the HMS Thrift APIs. Implement strong authentication and authorization mechanisms.
- Regular Security Audits: Perform regular security audits of your Hive environment to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.
