CVE-2024-12744 is an SQL injection vulnerability identified in the Amazon Redshift JDBC Driver version 2.1.0.31. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands, specifically within the metadata retrieval APIs: getSchemas, getTables, and getColumns. These APIs are commonly used to query database schema information. An attacker with legitimate but limited privileges can craft malicious input that is improperly sanitized, allowing them to inject arbitrary SQL commands. This can lead to privilege escalation, enabling unauthorized access to sensitive data or administrative functions within the Redshift environment. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without user interaction, but requires at least limited privileges on the database. The CVSS 4.0 score of 8.6 reflects high severity due to the ease of exploitation, significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, and the lack of required user interaction. Amazon has released an updated JDBC driver version 2.1.0.32 that patches this vulnerability. Users unable to upgrade immediately are advised to revert to version 2.1.0.30, which does not contain the flaw. No public exploits or active exploitation campaigns have been reported to date, but the potential impact on data security and system integrity is substantial, especially in environments relying heavily on Redshift for critical data warehousing and analytics.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data stored and processed in Amazon Redshift environments. Exploitation could allow attackers to escalate privileges and access or manipulate data beyond their authorized scope, potentially leading to data breaches, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), and operational disruptions. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and government, which often rely on Redshift for large-scale data analytics, are particularly vulnerable. The ability to exploit this remotely without user interaction increases the threat surface, especially for organizations exposing Redshift services or JDBC connections over internal or external networks. Additionally, unauthorized privilege escalation could facilitate lateral movement within enterprise networks, compounding the risk. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high severity score underscores the urgency of addressing the vulnerability to prevent potential exploitation.

1. Immediately upgrade the Amazon Redshift JDBC Driver to version 2.1.0.32, which contains the fix for CVE-2024-12744. 2. If upgrading is not feasible immediately, revert to version 2.1.0.30, which does not have the vulnerability. 3. Restrict network access to Redshift JDBC endpoints to trusted hosts and networks only, using firewall rules and network segmentation to reduce exposure. 4. Implement strict access controls and least privilege principles for database users, minimizing the number of accounts with metadata API access. 5. Monitor database logs and audit trails for unusual or unauthorized metadata queries that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) or SQL injection detection tools where applicable to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns. 7. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on database interfaces and drivers to identify and remediate similar injection flaws. 8. Educate development and database administration teams about secure coding and driver update practices to prevent future vulnerabilities.