Untrusted search path in PostgreSQL amcheck allows a grantee of amcheck function EXECUTE privilege to execute arbitrary functions as the owners of expression indexes that depend on the search path, via setting a hostile search path before calling the amcheck function. Within major versions 18, 16, 15, and 14, minor versions before PostgreSQL 18.5, 16.15, 15.19, and 14.24 are affected. PostgreSQL 17 is unaffected.
Weakness
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.
Extended Description
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: