It was found that some PostgreSQL extensions did not use search_path safely in their installation script. An attacker with sufficient privileges could use this flaw to trick an administrator into executing a specially crafted script, during the installation or update of such extension. This affects PostgreSQL versions before 12.4, before 11.9, before 10.14, before 9.6.19, and before 9.5.23.
The product searches for critical resources using an externally-supplied search path that can point to resources that are not under the product’s direct control.
| Name | Vendor | Start Version | End Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postgresql | Postgresql | 9.5 (including) | 9.5.23 (excluding) |
| Postgresql | Postgresql | 9.6 (including) | 9.6.19 (excluding) |
| Postgresql | Postgresql | 10.0 (including) | 10.14 (excluding) |
| Postgresql | Postgresql | 11.0 (including) | 11.9 (excluding) |
| Postgresql | Postgresql | 12.0 (including) | 12.4 (excluding) |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | RedHat | postgresql:10-8020020200825115746.4cda2c84 | * |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | RedHat | postgresql:9.6-8030020201201133334.229f0a1c | * |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | RedHat | postgresql:12-8030020201207110000.229f0a1c | * |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.0 Update Services for SAP Solutions | RedHat | postgresql:9.6-8000020201214122017.f8e95b4e | * |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.0 Update Services for SAP Solutions | RedHat | postgresql:10-8000020201214113918.f8e95b4e | * |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.1 Extended Update Support | RedHat | postgresql:10-8010020201214112129.c27ad7f8 | * |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.1 Extended Update Support | RedHat | postgresql:9.6-8010020201214134447.c27ad7f8 | * |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.2 Extended Update Support | RedHat | postgresql:12-8020020201207110224.4cda2c84 | * |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.2 Extended Update Support | RedHat | postgresql:9.6-8020020201201133334.4cda2c84 | * |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | RedHat | rh-postgresql96-postgresql-0:9.6.19-1.el7 | * |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | RedHat | rh-postgresql10-postgresql-0:10.14-1.el7 | * |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | RedHat | rh-postgresql12-postgresql-0:12.4-1.el7 | * |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6 EUS | RedHat | rh-postgresql96-postgresql-0:9.6.19-1.el7 | * |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6 EUS | RedHat | rh-postgresql10-postgresql-0:10.14-1.el7 | * |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6 EUS | RedHat | rh-postgresql12-postgresql-0:12.4-1.el7 | * |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.7 EUS | RedHat | rh-postgresql96-postgresql-0:9.6.19-1.el7 | * |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.7 EUS | RedHat | rh-postgresql10-postgresql-0:10.14-1.el7 | * |
| Red Hat Software Collections for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.7 EUS | RedHat | rh-postgresql12-postgresql-0:12.4-1.el7 | * |
| Red Hat Virtualization 4 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | RedHat | rhvm-appliance-0:4.4-20210310.0.el8ev | * |
| Postgresql-10 | Ubuntu | bionic | * |
| Postgresql-10 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
| Postgresql-12 | Ubuntu | focal | * |
| Postgresql-12 | Ubuntu | groovy | * |
| Postgresql-12 | Ubuntu | trusty | * |
| Postgresql-12 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
| Postgresql-9.1 | Ubuntu | precise/esm | * |
| Postgresql-9.1 | Ubuntu | trusty | * |
| Postgresql-9.3 | Ubuntu | trusty | * |
| Postgresql-9.5 | Ubuntu | upstream | * |
| Postgresql-9.5 | Ubuntu | xenial | * |
This might allow attackers to execute their own programs, access unauthorized data files, or modify configuration in unexpected ways. If the product uses a search path to locate critical resources such as programs, then an attacker could modify that search path to point to a malicious program, which the targeted product would then execute. The problem extends to any type of critical resource that the product trusts. Some of the most common variants of untrusted search path are: