# CVE-2016-8640: SQL Injection in pycsw

> SQL injection in pycsw allows attackers to read, modify, or delete database contents accessible to the database user.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 1 Aug 2018
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2016-8640, GHSA-hg4c-rgvm-964g, PYSEC-2018-98, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-8640

## What is CVE-2016-8640?

CVE-2016-8640 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in https://github.com/geopython pycsw, published on 1 Aug 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A SQL injection vulnerability in pycsw all versions before 2.0.2, 1.10.5 and 1.8.6 that leads to read and extract of any data from any table in the pycsw database that the database user has access to. Also on PostgreSQL (at least) it is possible to perform updates/inserts/deletes and database modifications to any table the database user has access to.

Weakness: CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-8640?

7 open source packages ship an affected version, including pycsw. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `pycsw` | PyPI | All versions | 1.8.6, 1.10.5, 2.0.2 |
| `pycsw` | PyPI | All versions | 1.8.6 |
| `pycsw` | PyPI | All versions | 1.8.6 |
| `pycsw` | PyPI | From 1.10.0 | 1.10.5 |
| `pycsw` | PyPI | From 1.10.0 | 1.10.5 |
| `pycsw` | PyPI | From 2.0.0 | 2.0.2 |
| `pycsw` | PyPI | From 2.0.0 | 2.0.2 |

Products: Pycsw Pycsw.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-8640?

Upgrade pycsw to a fixed version for your release line: 1.8.6, 1.10.5 or 2.0.2.

## Is CVE-2016-8640 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-8640 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-8640 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-8640 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in https://github.com/geopython pycsw, published on 1 Aug 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-8640 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- pycsw (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 1.8.6, 1.10.5, 2.0.2
- pycsw (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 1.8.6
- pycsw (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 1.8.6
- pycsw (PyPI): affected from 1.10.0; fixed in 1.10.5
- pycsw (PyPI): affected from 1.10.0; fixed in 1.10.5
- pycsw (PyPI): affected from 2.0.0; fixed in 2.0.2
- pycsw (PyPI): affected from 2.0.0; fixed in 2.0.2

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8640/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8640/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-8640
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-8640
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-8640

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8640/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.