CVE-2026-22244 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-1336, indicating improper neutralization of special elements used in a template engine, specifically FreeMarker templates within the OpenMetadata platform. OpenMetadata is a unified metadata management platform widely used for data governance, cataloging, and metadata integration. Versions prior to 1.11.4 contain a Server-Side Template Injection (SSTI) vulnerability in the email templating functionality. SSTI vulnerabilities occur when user-controllable input is embedded unsafely into server-side templates, allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code on the server. In this case, the vulnerability requires the attacker to have administrative privileges, which means the attacker must already have elevated access to the OpenMetadata instance. Once exploited, the attacker can execute arbitrary code remotely, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or disruption of services. The CVSS 4.0 score of 8.5 reflects a high severity due to network attack vector, low attack complexity, no user interaction, but requiring high privileges. The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability with a high scope impact, meaning it can affect resources beyond the initially compromised component. The patch was released in version 1.11.4, addressing the improper neutralization by sanitizing or restricting template inputs. No known exploits are currently in the wild, but the presence of this vulnerability in critical metadata infrastructure makes it a significant risk if left unpatched.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2026-22244 can be substantial, especially for those relying on OpenMetadata for data governance, compliance, and metadata management. Successful exploitation could lead to remote code execution, enabling attackers to manipulate metadata, disrupt data pipelines, or gain deeper access to enterprise systems. This could compromise sensitive business intelligence, violate data protection regulations such as GDPR, and cause operational downtime. Organizations in sectors like finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and government, which often use metadata platforms to manage large datasets, are particularly vulnerable. The requirement for administrative privileges limits the attack surface but also highlights the criticality of securing privileged accounts. A compromised OpenMetadata instance could serve as a pivot point for further lateral movement within an enterprise network. Additionally, disruption or manipulation of metadata can undermine trust in data integrity and analytics, impacting decision-making processes.

1. Immediately upgrade OpenMetadata installations to version 1.11.4 or later to apply the official patch addressing the SSTI vulnerability. 2. Enforce strict access controls and limit administrative privileges to essential personnel only, implementing the principle of least privilege. 3. Monitor administrative account activities for unusual behavior or unauthorized access attempts, using SIEM or EDR solutions. 4. Audit and sanitize all inputs used in FreeMarker templates, especially those that can be influenced by users or external systems. 5. Implement network segmentation to isolate metadata management platforms from broader enterprise networks to reduce lateral movement risk. 6. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on template injection and code execution vulnerabilities. 7. Educate administrators on the risks of SSTI and the importance of secure template handling. 8. Maintain up-to-date backups of metadata and configuration data to enable recovery in case of compromise.