CVE-2010-1975 in PostgreSQL
Summary
by MITRE
PostgreSQL 7.4 before 7.4.29, 8.0 before 8.0.25, 8.1 before 8.1.21, 8.2 before 8.2.17, 8.3 before 8.3.11, and 8.4 before 8.4.4 does not properly check privileges during certain RESET ALL operations, which allows remote authenticated users to remove arbitrary parameter settings via a (1) ALTER USER or (2) ALTER DATABASE statement.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2021
PostgreSQL versions prior to specific patch levels contain a privilege escalation vulnerability that stems from inadequate access control checks during certain RESET ALL operations. This vulnerability affects multiple major versions including 7.4.x through 8.4.x, creating a widespread security concern across the PostgreSQL ecosystem. The flaw specifically manifests when authenticated users execute ALTER USER or ALTER DATABASE statements that trigger RESET ALL operations, allowing them to bypass normal privilege restrictions and remove arbitrary parameter settings from the database configuration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the database's privilege validation mechanism during parameter reset operations. When a user with appropriate authentication credentials issues an ALTER USER or ALTER DATABASE command, the system should verify that the user possesses sufficient privileges to modify the specified parameters. However, the vulnerable versions fail to properly validate these privileges before executing the RESET ALL functionality, creating a path for privilege escalation. This weakness enables an authenticated attacker to manipulate database parameters that should normally be restricted to superuser access, effectively undermining the database's security model.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it allows attackers to potentially destabilize database operations by removing critical configuration parameters. An attacker could use this vulnerability to disable security features, modify performance settings, or remove essential database parameters that could lead to service disruption or unauthorized access to sensitive data. The remote nature of this attack means that authenticated users with minimal privileges can exploit this weakness from any network location, making it particularly dangerous in multi-tenant database environments where multiple users share the same database instance.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation." The flaw represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks in database management systems, where the security model fails to properly enforce the principle of least privilege. Organizations running affected PostgreSQL versions face significant risk as this vulnerability can be exploited without requiring special tools or advanced technical knowledge, making it accessible to a broad range of potential attackers.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to the patched versions of PostgreSQL, specifically PostgreSQL 7.4.29, 8.0.25, 8.1.21, 8.2.17, 8.3.11, and 8.4.4, which contain the necessary fixes to properly validate privileges during RESET ALL operations. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring to detect unauthorized parameter modifications and consider restricting the ability to execute ALTER USER and ALTER DATABASE commands to only privileged users. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any systems running affected versions and prioritize patch deployment as a critical security measure to protect database integrity and prevent potential data breaches.