MariaDB Server: Incorrect authorization in GRANT PROXY allows password change
Summary
MariaDB Server treats a GRANT PROXY statement with an IDENTIFIED clause and an empty password as if no authentication was specified. The server then checks the privileges of the wrong grantor. An authenticated low-privileged user who knows the name of another account can use this to set that account's password. The vendor rates the issue High with CVSS 8.8.
Affected
- MariaDB Server 10.6.1 to 10.6.27
- MariaDB Server 10.11.1 to 10.11.18
- MariaDB Server 11.4.1 to 11.4.12
- MariaDB Server 11.8.1 to 11.8.8
- MariaDB Server 12.3.1 to 12.3.2
- MariaDB Server 13.0.1
- Packaged versions from distributions may differ; check the distributor's advisory.
Fixed in
- 10.6.28
- 10.11.19
- 11.4.13
- 11.8.9
- 12.3.3
- 13.0.2
Workaround
- The vendor's only stated workaround is to use random, non-guessable account names, which makes it harder for an attacker to name the target. This is not a fix.
- Restrict who can create or hold GRANT PROXY privileges and remove proxy grants without a current owner.
- Audit GRANT PROXY statements, for example with the server_audit plugin.
Exploitation
- No evidence of active exploitation found.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
- No public proof of concept has been verified by this tracker. Third-party claims of remote code execution are unverified.
Our recommendation
- Update MariaDB Server to a fixed version listed above, or install the fixed package from your distributor.
- Until patched, review which accounts hold PROXY and GRANT privileges and limit them to the minimum.
- Check whether low-privileged or shared database accounts can be used by untrusted parties.
- Monitor logs for GRANT PROXY statements and unexpected password changes.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-625w-4hgq-qwmr github.com
- Fix commit dbd60d0 github.com
- MDEV-40470 jira.mariadb.org
- MariaDB 12.3.3 release notes mariadb.com
- MariaDB 10.6.28 changelog mariadb.com
- OSV BIT-mariadb-2026-97380 osv.dev
- Ubuntu CVE-2026-97380 ubuntu.com
- Debian security tracker CVE-2026-97380 security-tracker.debian.org
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 31 Oct 2026, 16:01.
Original description (NVD)
MariaDB server is a community developed fork of MySQL server. From 10.6.1 until 10.6.28, 10.11.19, 11.4.13, 11.8.9, 12.3.3, and 13.0.2, the GRANT PROXY statement treats an IDENTIFIED clause with an empty password as though authentication were not specified, causing it to check the wrong grantor privileges. A low-privileged attacker who can name another account can exploit this authorization error to set that account's password. This issue is fixed in versions 10.6.28, 10.11.19, 11.4.13, 11.8.9, 12.3.3, and 13.0.2.
NVD references (9)
- https://github.com/MariaDB/server/commit/dbd60d0ad8daa2d01050346aa50b7b102490e456
- https://github.com/MariaDB/server/releases/tag/mariadb-10.11.19
- https://github.com/MariaDB/server/releases/tag/mariadb-10.6.28
- https://github.com/MariaDB/server/releases/tag/mariadb-11.4.13
- https://github.com/MariaDB/server/releases/tag/mariadb-11.8.9
- https://github.com/MariaDB/server/releases/tag/mariadb-12.3.3
- https://github.com/MariaDB/server/releases/tag/mariadb-13.0.2
- https://github.com/MariaDB/server/security/advisories/GHSA-625w-4hgq-qwmr
- https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-40470
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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