OpenC3 COSMOS has SQL Injection in QuestDB Time-Series Database

Vulnerability Type: CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
Attack type: Authenticated remote
Impact: Telemetry data disclosure and deletion
Affected components: openc3-tsdb (QuestDB)

A SQL injection vulnerability exists in the Time-Series Database (TSDB) component of COSMOS. The tsdb_lookup function in the cvt_model.rb file directly places user-supplied input into a SQL query without sanitizing the input. As a result, a user can break out of the initial SQL statement and execute arbitrary SQL commands, including deleting data.

<img width="940" height="719" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/2c2dd294-6192-49d3-b670-fd7b82c05be0" />

Figure 1: Source code vulnerable to SQL injection
Additionally, the get_tlm_values RPC endpoint only requires “tlm” permissions, allowing any user with the Admin, Operator, Viewer, or Runner roles to send a request to the TSDB. This permission is defined in roles-permissions.md to allow for the user to view telemetry data, but this vulnerability also allows them to delete data and tables.

<img width="940" height="410" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/40be7e8d-51f9-442d-bbd7-77c8488a2f78" />

Figure 2: Source code showing the required permissions for the get_tlm_values endpoint
Sending a normal request to the endpoint brings back a single array of values for the parameter:

<img width="944" height="481" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/23678f17-6bdf-41c1-81bc-ace5a8daa7e5" />

Figure 3: A normal request to the get_tlm_values endpoint
However, sending a specially crafted request within the start_time variable brings back all the data in the database:

<img width="944" height="432" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/bd5ecc87-ba9c-43f0-b196-91062b9c395a" />

Figure 4: The request and response after sending the SQL injection payload
This payload can be modified to executes SQL commands in the TSDB.

<img width="944" height="425" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/70c3c88e-9ed6-4542-bfb4-e77abb002c15" />

Figure 5: SQL injection used to execute arbitrary SQL command
The user can then delete all the historical data in the database:

<img width="944" height="496" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/f2dc1fa6-5fe0-4232-867a-a65776f108ee" />

Figure 6: Example payload dropping the tables

Steps to Reproduce

1. Capture a JSON-RPC request to the get_tlm_values endpoint.
2. Add the start_time key to the request body and place the following in the value:

‘ OR 1=1 --

3. Retrieve all database data.

Recommendations

• Sanitize all user-supplied input before executing it
• Use prepared statements with parameterized queries when executing SQL statements