REDHAT-BUG-2477439: Medium severity PostgreSQL Global Development Group PostgreSQL vulnerability

Published May 14, 2026
·
Updated

Symlink following in PostgreSQL pgbasebackup plain format and in pgrewind allows an origin superuser to overwrite local files, e.g. /var/lib/postgres/.bashrc, that hijack the operating system account. It will remain the case that starting the server after these commands implicitly trusts the origin superuser, due to features like sharedpreloadlibraries. Hence, the attack has practical implications only if one takes relevant action between these commands and server start, like moving the files to a different VM or snapshotting the VM. Versions before PostgreSQL 18.4, 17.10, 16.14, 15.18, and 14.23 are affected.

Affected Software

1 affected component
PostgreSQL Global Development Group PostgreSQL<18.4, <17.10, <16.14, <15.18, <14.23

Event History

May 14, 2026
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·02:01 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of REDHAT-BUG-2477439?

The severity of REDHAT-BUG-2477439 is classified as medium with a score of 4.

2

What risk does REDHAT-BUG-2477439 pose?

REDHAT-BUG-2477439 poses a risk of symlink following that allows a superuser to overwrite local files, potentially compromising the operating system account.

3

How does REDHAT-BUG-2477439 affect PostgreSQL?

REDHAT-BUG-2477439 affects PostgreSQL by allowing an origin superuser to exploit pg_basebackup and pg_rewind to overwrite critical local files.

4

How do I mitigate the risks of REDHAT-BUG-2477439?

To mitigate the risks of REDHAT-BUG-2477439, ensure proper filesystem permissions and restrict superuser access in PostgreSQL.

5

What should I do if I am affected by REDHAT-BUG-2477439?

If affected by REDHAT-BUG-2477439, review and secure file permissions, restrict access accordingly, and patch PostgreSQL as recommended.

Contact

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