# CVE-2019-9039: SQL Injection in Couchbase Sync Gateway

> Attackers can inject N1QL queries via REST API parameters to extract sensitive data or cause denial of service in Couchbase Sync Gateway.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 26 Jun 2019
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-g622-r636-qfqh

## What is CVE-2019-9039?

CVE-2019-9039 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 26 Jun 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In Couchbase Sync Gateway 2.1.2, an attacker with access to the Sync Gateway’s public REST API was able to issue additional N1QL statements and extract sensitive data or call arbitrary N1QL functions through the parameters "startkey" and "endkey" on the "_all_docs" endpoint. By issuing nested queries with CPU-intensive operations they may have been able to cause increased resource usage and denial of service conditions. The _all_docs endpoint is not required for Couchbase Mobile replication and external access to this REST endpoint has been blocked to mitigate this issue. This issue has been fixed in versions 2.5.0 and 2.1.3.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-9039?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including github.com/couchbase/sync_gateway. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `github.com/couchbase/sync_gateway` | Go | All versions | 2.5.0 |
| `github.com/couchbase/sync_gateway` | Go | All versions | 2.5.0 |

Products: Couchbase Sync Gateway.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-9039?

Upgrade github.com/couchbase/sync_gateway to 2.5.0 or later.

## Is CVE-2019-9039 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-9039 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2022-32563](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-32563/): Couchbase Sync Gateway admin credentials not verified when using X.509 client cert authentication (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-43963](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-43963/): Information disclosure in n/a (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2025-52490](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-52490/): Couchbase Sync Gateway shows cleartext passwords in redacted and unredacted output (high 7.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-9039 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-9039 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 26 Jun 2019. 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-2019-9039 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- github.com/couchbase/sync_gateway (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 2.5.0
- github.com/couchbase/sync_gateway (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 2.5.0

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-2019-9039/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-9039/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-9039
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-9039
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-9039

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-9039/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.