CVE-2026-6475

Description

Symlink following in PostgreSQL pg_basebackup plain format and in pg_rewind 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 shared_preload_libraries. 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.

CVSS v3.1 Score

8.8

HIGH

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0005

Probability of exploitation

0.15%

Percentile rank

EPSS estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. A higher score means more likely to be exploited.

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-61 CWE-61

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
postgresql	postgresql	< 14.23
postgresql	postgresql	15.0 — 15.18
postgresql	postgresql	16.0 — 16.14
postgresql	postgresql	17.0 — 17.10
postgresql	postgresql	18.0 — 18.4

References

Advisories & Patches

https://www.postgresql.org/support/security/CVE-2026-6475/

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-6475? +

Symlink following in PostgreSQL pg_basebackup plain format and in pg_rewind 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 shared_preload_libraries. 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. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-2026-6475? +

CVE-2026-6475 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 8.8 out of 10, rated HIGH. This is a high-severity vulnerability that should be prioritized for patching. The EPSS score is 0.0005, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

What products are affected by CVE-2026-6475? +

CVE-2026-6475 affects products from postgresql, specifically: postgresql. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-6475? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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