CVE-2007-0555 in PostgreSQL
Summary
by MITRE • 01/25/2023
PostgreSQL 7.3 before 7.3.13, 7.4 before 7.4.16, 8.0 before 8.0.11, 8.1 before 8.1.7, and 8.2 before 8.2.2 allows attackers to disable certain checks for the data types of SQL function arguments, which allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (server crash) and possibly access database content.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2023
This vulnerability in PostgreSQL versions prior to the specified patches represents a critical flaw in the database management system's type checking mechanism within SQL function execution. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of data types when SQL functions are invoked, allowing authenticated attackers to manipulate the argument type checking process. This weakness specifically affects PostgreSQL versions 7.3 through 8.2, creating a persistent security issue across multiple major releases. The flaw manifests when attackers can bypass the normal type validation routines that ensure function arguments match expected data types, effectively disabling crucial safety checks that protect against malformed input.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the function argument validation subsystem within PostgreSQL's query execution engine. When SQL functions are called with arguments, the system normally performs strict type checking to ensure compatibility between provided values and declared function parameters. However, this vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the execution path such that these type checks are effectively neutralized. The consequence of this manipulation is that the database server can be forced into an inconsistent state where it attempts to process arguments with incompatible types, leading to unpredictable behavior including server crashes and potential memory corruption. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses insufficient input validation, and specifically relates to CWE-248, dealing with exposure of an exception condition.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-0555 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable data access violations. While the primary effect is server crash and denial of service, the vulnerability's potential for data exposure makes it particularly dangerous in production environments. Attackers with authenticated access can leverage this weakness to not only disrupt database services but also potentially extract sensitive information from the database. The vulnerability creates a pathway for privilege escalation and information disclosure, as the corrupted execution context may allow unauthorized data access. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts usage, and T1068 which addresses local privilege escalation, though in this case the attack vector involves authenticated access to the database system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected PostgreSQL installations to the recommended versions that contain the necessary type checking fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive database security monitoring to detect unusual function execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Access controls should be strictly enforced to limit database authentication to only trusted users, as the vulnerability requires authenticated access to exploit. Additionally, database administrators should implement regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in database configurations. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to limit access to database systems, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current database software versions and implementing proper access controls as fundamental security measures against such persistent threats.