CVE-2014-0063 in PostgreSQL
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in PostgreSQL before 8.4.20, 9.0.x before 9.0.16, 9.1.x before 9.1.12, 9.2.x before 9.2.7, and 9.3.x before 9.3.3 allow remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via vectors related to an incorrect MAXDATELEN constant and datetime values involving (1) intervals, (2) timestamps, or (3) timezones, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-0065.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0063 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow issue affecting multiple versions of the PostgreSQL database management system. This flaw resides in the handling of datetime values and specifically impacts the MAXDATELEN constant which governs the maximum length of date and time string representations. The vulnerability affects PostgreSQL versions prior to 8.4.20, 9.0.x before 9.0.16, 9.1.x before 9.1.12, 9.2.x before 9.2.7, and 9.3.x before 9.3.3, making it a widespread issue across several major release branches. The flaw is particularly concerning because it allows authenticated remote attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions through carefully crafted datetime inputs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from an incorrect MAXDATELEN constant that fails to properly account for the actual memory requirements when processing datetime values. When PostgreSQL processes intervals, timestamps, or timezone information, the system uses this constant to allocate stack space for temporary storage of date and time strings. However, the flawed constant calculation results in insufficient stack space allocation, creating a condition where maliciously crafted datetime values can overflow the allocated buffer space. This buffer overflow can overwrite adjacent stack memory, potentially corrupting program execution flow or allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability specifically targets the parsing and processing of datetime values during query execution, making it particularly dangerous in environments where database queries are processed with user-supplied input.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-0063 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable remote code execution, making it a severe security concern for database administrators. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause database servers to crash and restart, leading to service disruption and potential data loss. More critically, the buffer overflow condition could be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the database process, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or compromise the entire database server. The vulnerability affects authenticated users, meaning that even legitimate database connections can be exploited if attackers have valid credentials, making it particularly dangerous in environments where database access is granted to multiple users.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected PostgreSQL installations to address this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation involves upgrading to PostgreSQL versions 8.4.20, 9.0.16, 9.1.12, 9.2.7, or 9.3.3 respectively, which contain the necessary fixes for the MAXDATELEN constant calculation. Database administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, ensuring that only trusted users have database authentication credentials. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns in datetime query processing that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is categorized under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, and represents a technique that could be mapped to ATT&CK tactic TA0001 Initial Access through the use of database authentication credentials. Organizations should also consider implementing input validation controls and query auditing to further reduce the risk of exploitation, particularly focusing on datetime-related query parameters that could trigger the vulnerable code paths.