CVE-2026-55854: MariaDB Connector/Node.js: Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information and Insufficiently Protected Credentials in mariadb

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-55854 is a medium (CVSS 5.9) vulnerability in mariadb-corporation mariadb-connector-nodejs. EPSS estimates a 0.42% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 36% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 28-08-2026
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 31-08-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

MariaDB Connector/Node.js is used to connect applications developed on Node.js to MariaDB and MySQL databases. Prior to 3.2.4, 3.3.3, 3.4.6, and 3.5.3, MariaDB Connector/Node.js can disclose an account password when PAM dialog authentication is negotiated over an insecure transport. In lib/cmd/handshake/auth/pam-password-auth.js and lib/cmd/handshake/authentication.js, the SendPamAuthPacketFactory behavior for the server-side plugin dialog lacked the secure-transport gate applied to mysql_clear_password. With the default sslMode=DISABLE and restrictedAuth=null settings, a hostile or on-path server can send an Authentication Switch Request for dialog over plain TCP, causing the connector to return the account password in cleartext. Properly verified TLS and a local Unix socket prevent this path, while fingerprint-only server identity validation is not sufficient. This issue is fixed in versions 3.2.4, 3.3.3, 3.4.6, and 3.5.3.

• CWE-319Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive InformationThe product transmits sensitive or security-critical data in cleartext in a communication channel that can be sniffed by unauthorized actors.
• CWE-522Insufficiently Protected CredentialsThe product transmits or stores authentication credentials, but it uses an insecure method that is susceptible to unauthorized interception and/or retrieval.