CVE-2006-0105 in PostgreSQL
Summary
by MITRE
PostgreSQL 8.0.x before 8.0.6 and 8.1.x before 8.1.2, when running on Windows, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (postmaster exit and no new connections) via a large number of simultaneous connection requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2018
This vulnerability affects PostgreSQL database systems running on Microsoft Windows platforms and represents a significant denial of service weakness that can completely disrupt database operations. The flaw exists in versions 8.0.x prior to 8.0.6 and 8.1.x prior to 8.1.2, where the postmaster process becomes unstable under specific connection stress conditions. Attackers can exploit this weakness by initiating a large volume of simultaneous connection requests to the database server, causing the postmaster process to terminate unexpectedly and preventing any new connections from being established. This creates a complete service disruption that can severely impact applications relying on database connectivity. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core database process that manages all client connections and serves as the primary interface between database clients and the PostgreSQL backend services.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability stems from inadequate handling of concurrent connection requests within the Windows-specific implementation of PostgreSQL's connection management system. When multiple connection attempts are processed simultaneously, the system fails to properly manage resource allocation and connection state transitions, leading to a critical failure in the postmaster process. This failure occurs specifically on Windows platforms due to differences in how the operating system handles process management and resource contention compared to Unix-like systems where PostgreSQL typically performs more robustly. The flaw manifests as a buffer overflow or resource exhaustion condition that causes the postmaster to crash, effectively shutting down the entire database service. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper handling of resource exhaustion conditions, and CWE-131, which covers improper handling of buffer underflows in connection management systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader business continuity risks and potential data integrity concerns. Organizations running PostgreSQL on Windows servers face the risk of complete database unavailability during attack windows, which can result in application downtime, user frustration, and potential financial losses. The vulnerability particularly affects web applications, enterprise systems, and any environment where database connections are frequently established and terminated. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform low-cost denial of service attacks that require minimal resources but can cause significant operational damage. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks, and T1566.001, which covers spearphishing attacks that could be used to gain initial access before exploiting this service disruption weakness. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication and can be executed from any network location, making it an attractive target for malicious actors seeking to disrupt database services.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to PostgreSQL versions 8.0.6 or later for 8.0.x releases and 8.1.2 or later for 8.1.x releases where the vulnerability has been patched. Network-level protections such as connection rate limiting and firewall rules can help reduce the impact of such attacks by limiting the number of simultaneous connection attempts that reach the database server. Implementing connection pooling mechanisms and proper load balancing can also help distribute connection requests more effectively and prevent the resource exhaustion that triggers the vulnerability. System administrators should also monitor database connection patterns and establish alerting mechanisms to detect unusual connection spikes that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify patterns associated with connection flooding attacks and automatically respond to prevent exploitation. The patching process should be prioritized as part of routine security maintenance, as this vulnerability represents a critical weakness that can be exploited without requiring advanced technical skills or privileged access to the target system.