CVE-2026-46531

MEDIUM CVSS 5.5

Published: 2026-10-23

Modified: 2026-10-23

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AI Threat Summary

CVE-2026-46531 is a moderate vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 affecting the target software. This vulnerability allows SQL injection leading to unauthorized data access. Threat hunters should monitor for exploit attempts and apply vendor patches immediately.

Description

Cacti is an open source performance and fault management framework. From version 1.2.27 to before version 1.2.31, Cacti contains an authenticated stored second-order SQL injection in the automation tree rule item handler. A user holding the Automation realm (default General Administration role) can persist an arbitrary SQL fragment in the automation_tree_rule_items.field column. The fragment is later concatenated directly into a SELECT ... AS source FROM ... clause in lib/api_automation.php :: create_all_header_nodes() and executed when an administrator triggers automation via the standard graphs.php?action=actions&drp_action=8 ("Apply Automation Rules") bulk action. The result of the injected SELECT is written into graph_tree_items.title and rendered in the Cacti tree UI, providing a direct exfiltration channe. This issue has been patched in version 1.2.31.

Attack Chain

Reconnaissance

Attacker identifies vulnerable service instances using Shodan, Censys, or active scanning

Initial Access

Attacker crafts malicious payload exploiting CVE-2026-46531 to achieve remote code execution

Execution

Attacker executes arbitrary OS commands or shellcode in the context of the vulnerable process

Persistence

Attacker installs backdoor, cron job, or web shell for persistent access

Lateral Movement

Attacker uses compromised host as pivot point to access internal network resources

MITRE ATT&CK Techniques

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application

Initial Access

Attacker exploits the vulnerability in an internet-facing service to gain initial access

T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter

Execution

Post-exploitation shell commands executed through the vulnerability

T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer

Command and Control

Attacker downloads malware or tools after gaining code execution

Indicators of Compromise

Type	Value	Description
user_agent	`Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; exploit/1.0)`	Generic exploit scanner user agent pattern
url	`/api/vuln-endpoint?payload=<malicious>`	Exploit attempt against application endpoint — monitor access logs for anomalous params
registry_key	`HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\backdoor`	Persistence mechanism after successful RCE
url	`' OR 1=1--`	Classic SQL injection payload — monitor WAF and DB query logs

Remediation

1. Apply vendor-supplied security patches immediately. 2. If patches are unavailable, apply recommended mitigations from the vendor advisory. 3. Enable WAF rules or IDS signatures to detect exploitation attempts. 4. Monitor logs for indicators of compromise listed above. 5. Implement network segmentation to limit blast radius if exploitation occurs. 6. Subscribe to vendor security advisories for this product.

Quick Facts

CVE ID	CVE-2026-46531
CVSS Score	5.5
Vector	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N`
Published	2026-10-23
Exploited	No
CISA KEV	No
PoC	Not public

References

External Resources

NVD Entry BleepingComputer The Hacker News