External risk intelligence

Apache Fineract SQL Injection in Advance Search API

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8)

CVE-2026-64618

Apache Fineract is a core banking platform. The vulnerability exists within an HTTP API endpoint (/fineract-provider/api/v1/search/advance) designed for application data processing. APIs in such platforms are commonly exposed to support integrated services, mobile banking front-ends, or partner connectivity, making them reachable in typical deployment patterns.

SQL Injection

Apache Fineract

before 1.16.0

Halo Surface Signal: 4 out of 5 — likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

A critical vulnerability has been identified in Apache Fineract, a core banking platform, that could allow unauthorized access to sensitive data. This issue stems from how the system processes certain search requests, potentially enabling attackers to inject malicious commands. While the direct business impact is not yet fully detailed, the critical nature of the affected system warrants attention.

SQL injection in search function.
Core banking platform vulnerability.
Confirm relevance and exposure.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted requests to a publicly accessible API endpoint. This endpoint is designed to process search queries and is vulnerable due to insufficient sanitization of user input in the `outStandingAmountPercentageCondition` parameter. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to inject malicious SQL commands, potentially leading to unauthorized access, modification, or deletion of sensitive data within the Apache Fineract system.

No authentication required to access API.
SQL injection via `outStandingAmountPercentageCondition` parameter.
Unrestricted access to and modification of data.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This SQL injection vulnerability could affect system data and service behavior when the `outStandingAmountPercentageCondition` parameter of the advance search API is used without sufficient input neutralization.

System and user data could be exposed.
SQL injection may occur via the advance search API.
Data integrity and service availability could be impacted.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This SQL injection vulnerability in Apache Fineract's advance search API requires immediate attention from platform or application owners. The first step is to identify all instances of Apache Fineract within your environment, determine their exposure and business criticality, and then coordinate remediation efforts, likely involving an upgrade to version 1.16.1.

Platform or application owners should triage.
Verify Fineract instance exposure and criticality.
Plan upgrade to version 1.16.1.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

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Frequently asked questions

What is Apache Fineract?

Apache Fineract is an open-source platform designed for core banking services. It provides the backend technology necessary to handle financial transactions, manage accounts, and support digital banking infrastructure, often serving as the foundation for mobile banking apps and integrated financial service providers.

What does CVE-2026-64618 mean for system security?

This CVE identifies an SQL injection vulnerability, classified as CWE-89. This weakness occurs when a system does not properly clean or neutralize user-provided data before using it in a database query. In this case, an attacker can manipulate the search logic to run their own unauthorized database commands.

How does the SQL injection in the search API get triggered?

The vulnerability is triggered by sending a crafted request to the /fineract-provider/api/v1/search/advance endpoint using the outStandingAmountPercentageCondition parameter. It is important to note that the vulnerability exists specifically because this input is handled insecurely; requests that do not utilize this specific search parameter or target other API functions do not trigger this particular flaw.

Do I need to worry about this if my Fineract instance is not on the internet?

According to Halo Surface Signal, this vulnerability is significant because core banking APIs are often exposed to support partner connectivity or mobile front-ends, making them reachable in many common setups. Even if your instance is internal, you should assess whether any connected services or local networks could reach the API, as the bug does not require authentication to exploit.

When should I upgrade to protect my Apache Fineract environment?

You should prioritize upgrading as soon as possible. Because this issue allows unauthorized data access or modification, your first step is to locate all Fineract deployments in your environment, determine their business criticality, and coordinate a migration to version 1.16.1, which includes the necessary fix for this input handling flaw.

References

Written by Nicholas Merritt

Nicholas Merritt is VP of Security Solutions at Halo Security. With more than 25 years across application security, vulnerability prioritization, and offensive security, he helps teams translate threat data into practical exposure validation and remediation focus. He authors Halo Threat Intelligence CVE advisories using Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context to prioritize internet-facing risk.