MariaDB Connector/J does not enforce allowLocalInfile=false on server-initiated LOCAL INFILE requests
## Summary MariaDB Connector/J does not enforce `allowLocalInfile=false` when processing server-initiated LOCAL INFILE requests (protocol packet type `0xfb`). However, exploitation is constrained: the server can only request the exact filename the client already included in its `LOAD DATA LOCAL INFILE` query, it cannot redirect to arbitrary paths. ## Details When a client executes `LOAD DATA LOCAL INFILE '/path/to/file'`, the connector sends the filename to the server as part of the COM_QUERY. A rogue or MitM server responds with a `0xfb` packet echoing that same filename. The connector, without checking `allowLocalInfile`, transmits the file content. The bypass is therefore limited to the file the application itself intended to load. The attacker cannot escalate to other files (e.g. `/etc/passwd`) unless the application's own query targets them. The real-world risk is: - An application that uses `LOAD DATA LOCAL INFILE` on potentially sensitive files (credentials, exports, configs) and connects over an untrusted network. - `allowLocalInfile=false` is supposed to disable this entire mechanism as a defense-in-depth measure, but the flag is ignored. ## Impact The security guarantee of `allowLocalInfile=false` is not upheld, but practical exploitation requires both a MitM/rogue server and an application that actively uses LOCAL INFILE on sensitive data. ## Credit Reported by tharavel
describes (1)
Related CVEs.
| ID | severity | exploitable | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-61700US | — | — | ||
MariaDB Connector/J is used to connect applications developed in Java to MariaDB and MySQL databases. Prior to 2.7.14, 3.3.5, 3.4.3, and 3.5.9, ClientMessage.readPacket processes a… | ||||
references
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://github.com/mariadb-corporation/mariadb-connector-jPACKAGE
- https://github.com/mariadb-corporation/mariadb-connector-j/commit/0205d8be947918566cd9ce5a9db149541bbc8deeWEB
- https://github.com/mariadb-corporation/mariadb-connector-j/releases/tag/3.5.9WEB
- https://github.com/mariadb-corporation/mariadb-connector-j/security/advisories/GHSA-wxmm-q36w-r9xjWEB
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