CVE-2026-48188: Critical OTRS SQL Injection Bypasses Authentication
The National Vulnerability Database (NVD) has disclosed CVE-2026-48188, a critical improper input validation vulnerability within OTRS and ((OTRS)) Community Edition’s database layer. This flaw enables an unauthenticated SQL injection, leading directly to an authentication bypass. Attackers can gain unauthorized access to the system without needing valid credentials.
Critically, this vulnerability is only exploitable if the underlying MySQL/MariaDB server is configured with the NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES SQL mode. This configuration is not always default, but it’s common enough that defenders cannot ignore it. The CVSSv3.1 score is 9.1 (Critical), indicating severe impact on confidentiality and integrity, with no user interaction or complex attack conditions required.
Affected versions include OTRS 7.0.X, 8.0.X, 2023.X, 2024.X, 2025.X, and 2026.X before 2026.4.X, as well as ((OTRS)) Community Edition 6.0.x. Products built on the Community Edition are also highly likely to be affected. Defenders must prioritize patching and configuration review to mitigate this significant risk.
What This Means For You
- If your organization uses OTRS or ((OTRS)) Community Edition, this is a critical vulnerability that demands immediate attention. You must verify your MySQL/MariaDB server's SQL mode configuration for `NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES`. If it's enabled, you are exposed to unauthenticated authentication bypass. Patch all affected OTRS instances to the latest secure version (2026.4.X or newer for OTRS, and check for updates for Community Edition) without delay.
Related ATT&CK Techniques
🛡️ Detection Rules
6 rules · 6 SIEM formats6 detection rules auto-generated for this incident, mapped to MITRE ATT&CK. Sigma YAML is free — export to any SIEM format via the Intel Bot.
Web Application Exploitation Attempt — CVE-2026-48188
title: Web Application Exploitation Attempt — CVE-2026-48188
id: scw-2026-06-01-1
status: experimental
level: high
description: |
Detects common exploitation patterns targeting web applications. Review CVE-2026-48188 advisories for specific indicators.
author: SCW Feed Engine (auto-generated)
date: 2026-06-01
references:
- https://shimiscyberworld.com/posts/nvd-CVE-2026-48188/
tags:
- attack.initial_access
- attack.t1190
logsource:
category: webserver
detection:
selection:
cs-uri-query|contains:
- '..'
- 'SELECT'
- 'UNION'
- '<script'
- 'cmd='
- '/etc/passwd'
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Legitimate activity from CVE-2026-48188
Source: Shimi's Cyber World · License & reuse
Indicators of Compromise
| ID | Type | Indicator |
|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-48188 | SQLi | OTRS database layer module |
| CVE-2026-48188 | Auth Bypass | OTRS database layer module |
| CVE-2026-48188 | SQLi | OTRS versions 7.0.X, 8.0.X, 2023.X, 2024.X, 2025.X, 2026.X before 2026.4.X |
| CVE-2026-48188 | SQLi | ((OTRS)) Community Edition version 6.0.x |
| CVE-2026-48188 | Misconfiguration | MySQL/MariaDB server configured with NO_BACKSLASH_ESCAPES SQL mode |
Written by SCW Vulnerability Desk
Source & Attribution
| Source Platform | NVD |
| Channel | National Vulnerability Database |
| Published | June 01, 2026 at 07:16 UTC |
This content was AI-rewritten and enriched by Shimi's Cyber World based on the original source. All intellectual property rights remain with the original author.
Believe this infringes your rights? Submit a takedown request.
Related coverage
CVE-2026-48209: OTRS XSS Exposes Agent Sessions to Attackers
CVE-2026-48209 — An improper neutralization of user-controllable input in OTRS or ((OTRS)) Community Edition ticket handling allows authenticated attackers to perform reflected cross-site scripting (XSS)...
CVE-2026-48208 — Denial of Service
CVE-2026-48208 — An improper neutralization of active SVG content in OTRS or ((OTRS)) Community Edition ticket article rendering allows attackers to inject specially crafted SVG...
CVE-2026-48189 — OTRS Customer Backend Module Vulnerability
CVE-2026-48189 — An improper Input Validation vulnerability in OTRS Customer Backend module allows to access customer information which are restricted to other groups. Please note...