# CVE-2026-35561: Amazon Athena ODBC driver OS command injection in Linux authentication component

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-5485-amazon-athena-odbc-driver-os-command-injection-in-linux  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-04-03. Updated: 2026-07-24  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-35561 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-04-03

The Amazon Athena ODBC driver, which allows applications to connect to the Athena data analysis service, contains a security flaw in its Linux version. An attacker could use specially crafted connection settings to trick a user into running malicious commands on their computer. This could lead to a full system compromise, unauthorized data access, or the installation of malware when a user attempts to connect to a database.

Technologies: [Amazon Athena Odbc](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/athena-odbc), [Amazon AWS](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/aws), [Linux Kernel](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/kernel). Vendors: [Amazon](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/amazon), [Amazon Web Services](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/amazon-web-services), [Linux](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/linux).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-35561 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-35561 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-35561?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 3 April 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Amazon Web Services Athena ODBC Driver < 2.1.0.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-35561?** A patch was published on 2025-10-13: Version 2.0.5.1 released to address the Linux-specific injection issue. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-35561 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-35561?** Check whether you run Amazon Athena Odbc, Amazon AWS, Amazon Web Services Athena ODBC Driver or one of the others listed at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

An OS command injection vulnerability exists in the browser-based authentication component of the Amazon Athena ODBC driver for Linux. The flaw is rooted in the improper neutralization of special elements within connection parameters that are processed when the driver launches a browser for authentication. A local attacker can exploit this by providing specially crafted connection strings; when a user initiates a connection using these parameters, the driver executes arbitrary shell commands with the privileges of the local user. This issue was specifically addressed by improving the browser launch mechanism to use safer system APIs. Users should upgrade to version 2.0.5.1 or later to remediate this vulnerability.

## Affected products

- Amazon Amazon Athena ODBC driver < 2.0.5.1 (Linux)

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-35561
- CVE-2026-35558
- CVE-2026-35562
- CVE-2026-5485
- CVE-2026-35560
- CVE-2026-35559

## Timeline

- 2025-10-13: patched: Version 2.0.5.1 released to address the Linux-specific injection issue.
- 2026-03-20: advisory: Version 2.1.0.0 released with broader security improvements.
- 2026-04-03: disclosed: CVE-2026-5485 published.

## References

- [https://aws.amazon.com/security/security-bulletins/2026-013-aws/](https://aws.amazon.com/security/security-bulletins/2026-013-aws/)
- [https://docs.aws.amazon.com/athena/latest/ug/odbc-v2-driver-release-notes.html](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/athena/latest/ug/odbc-v2-driver-release-notes.html)
- [https://downloads.athena.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/drivers/ODBC/v2.1.0.0/Linux/AmazonAthenaODBC-2.1.0.0.rpm](https://downloads.athena.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/drivers/ODBC/v2.1.0.0/Linux/AmazonAthenaODBC-2.1.0.0.rpm)
- [https://downloads.athena.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/drivers/ODBC/v2.1.0.0/Mac/Intel/AmazonAthenaODBC-2.1.0.0_x86.pkg](https://downloads.athena.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/drivers/ODBC/v2.1.0.0/Mac/Intel/AmazonAthenaODBC-2.1.0.0_x86.pkg)
- [https://downloads.athena.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/drivers/ODBC/v2.1.0.0/Mac/arm/AmazonAthenaODBC-2.1.0.0_arm.pkg](https://downloads.athena.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/drivers/ODBC/v2.1.0.0/Mac/arm/AmazonAthenaODBC-2.1.0.0_arm.pkg)
- [https://downloads.athena.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/drivers/ODBC/v2.1.0.0/Windows/AmazonAthenaODBC-2.1.0.0.msi](https://downloads.athena.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/drivers/ODBC/v2.1.0.0/Windows/AmazonAthenaODBC-2.1.0.0.msi)

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