CVE-2018-16850 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2018-16850 affecting PostgreSQL versions 11.1 and 10.6. Understand the SQL injection vulnerability, its impact, affected systems, and mitigation steps.
PostgreSQL versions 11.1 and 10.6 are susceptible to a SQL injection vulnerability, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary SQL statements with elevated privileges.
Understanding CVE-2018-16850
This CVE involves a potential SQL injection vulnerability in PostgreSQL versions 11.1 and 10.6, which can be exploited to run arbitrary SQL commands with superuser privileges.
What is CVE-2018-16850?
PostgreSQL versions prior to 11.1 and 10.6 are exposed to a SQL injection vulnerability in pg_upgrade and pg_dump through the usage of CREATE TRIGGER ... REFERENCING. By crafting a specific trigger definition, an attacker can execute arbitrary SQL statements with elevated privileges as a superuser.
The Impact of CVE-2018-16850
- CVSS Score: 8 (High)
- Attack Vector: Network
- Attack Complexity: Low
- Privileges Required: Low
- User Interaction: Required
- Confidentiality Impact: High
- Integrity Impact: High
- Availability Impact: High
Technical Details of CVE-2018-16850
This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
PostgreSQL versions before 11.1 and 10.6 are vulnerable to a SQL injection in pg_upgrade and pg_dump via CREATE TRIGGER ... REFERENCING. Using a purpose-crafted trigger definition, an attacker can cause arbitrary SQL statements to run, with superuser privileges.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Affected Systems: PostgreSQL
- Vulnerable Versions: 11.1, 10.6
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited by creating a specially crafted trigger definition in pg_upgrade and pg_dump, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary SQL statements with elevated privileges.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protect your systems from CVE-2018-16850 by following these mitigation strategies.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update PostgreSQL to version 11.1 or 10.6 to patch the vulnerability.
- Monitor for any unusual SQL activities that could indicate exploitation.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch PostgreSQL to prevent known vulnerabilities.
- Implement least privilege access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Patching and Updates
- Apply the latest security patches provided by PostgreSQL to address this vulnerability.