Vulnerability Description
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Data Query Logic vulnerability in ash-project ash_sql allows a user who supplies a search term to contains/2, string_starts_with/2, or string_ends_with/2 to inject live SQL LIKE wildcards, turning a literal substring search into an attacker-controlled pattern match. The escape helpers in AshSql.Expr prefix % and _ with a backslash but never escape a backslash already present in the input. Because backslash is the default LIKE escape character, the escaping defeats itself: the input \% becomes the pattern fragment \\%, where \\ is a literal backslash and the attacker's % remains a live wildcard. The search value stays parameterized, so this is confined to the LIKE pattern grammar rather than full SQL. An attacker can widen matches to probe values, slip past a negated contains(...) guard, or crash the query with a trailing lone backslash. This issue affects ash_sql: from 0.1.1-rc.10 before 0.7.1.
Related Weaknesses (CWE)
References
- https://cna.erlef.org/cves/CVE-2026-78691.html
- https://github.com/ash-project/ash_sql/commit/d95c55c64b1b42cc2fd30211a4913f3145
- https://github.com/ash-project/ash_sql/security/advisories/GHSA-5jgp-7mhc-6qqh
- https://osv.dev/vulnerability/EEF-CVE-2026-78691
- https://github.com/ash-project/ash_sql/security/advisories/GHSA-5jgp-7mhc-6qqh
FAQ
What is CVE-2026-78691?
CVE-2026-78691 is a documented vulnerability. Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Data Query Logic vulnerability in ash-project ash_sql allows a user who supplies a search term to contains/2, string_starts_with/2, or string_ends_with/2...
How severe is CVE-2026-78691?
CVSS scoring is not yet available for CVE-2026-78691. Check NVD for updates.
Is there a patch for CVE-2026-78691?
Check the references section above for vendor advisories and patch information. Review vendor security bulletins for remediation guidance.