# CVE-2026-17603: Nexus Repository 3 - HikariCP connectionInitSql Injection RCE via DataStore Configuration API

> An authenticated user with datastore update permissions can inject SQL via HikariCP configuration to achieve remote code execution on the Nexus server.

- **Severity:** High 8.7 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 7 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-65xx-g4qc-4g4m, MINI-rfhc-c96h-78h8, MINI-v3gj-fj27-pv9h

## What is CVE-2026-17603?

CVE-2026-17603 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager, published on 7 Aug 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Nexus Repository 3 did not sufficiently restrict which HikariCP connection-pool properties could be set through the DataStore configuration API. A user holding the nx-datastores-update permission could set the connectionInitSql property to execute arbitrary SQL against the configured database on every new connection. On the default H2 database backend, this could be leveraged to achieve remote code execution as the Nexus process user.

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-17603?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-17603?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2026-17603 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-17603 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager

- [CVE-2019-7238](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-7238/): Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager Incorrect Access Control (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-9629](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-9629/): Hardcoded credentials in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-17717](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-17717/): Hardcoded credentials in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-3199](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-3199/): Nexus Repository 3 - Authenticated Remote Code Execution via Task Property Injection (critical 9.4)
- [CVE-2026-5189](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-5189/): Nexus Repository 3 - Hardcoded Credential in Internal Database Component (critical 9.2)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-17603 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-17603 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager, published on 7 Aug 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-17603 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

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-2026-17603/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-17603/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-17603
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-17603
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-17603

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-17603/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.