CVE-2015-0244 in PostgreSQL
Summary
by MITRE
PostgreSQL before 9.0.19, 9.1.x before 9.1.15, 9.2.x before 9.2.10, 9.3.x before 9.3.6, and 9.4.x before 9.4.1 does not properly handle errors while reading a protocol message, which allows remote attackers to conduct SQL injection attacks via crafted binary data in a parameter and causing an error, which triggers the loss of synchronization and part of the protocol message to be treated as a new message, as demonstrated by causing a timeout or query cancellation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2022
This vulnerability in PostgreSQL represents a critical protocol handling flaw that enables remote attackers to execute SQL injection attacks through carefully crafted binary data in parameters. The vulnerability exists in versions prior to the specified patches across multiple release branches, indicating a widespread issue affecting the database's core communication protocol implementation. The flaw specifically manifests when the database server encounters malformed protocol messages during parameter processing, creating a condition where error handling mechanisms fail to properly manage the protocol state.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the improper handling of protocol message parsing errors within PostgreSQL's backend processing. When a maliciously crafted binary parameter is sent to the database server, it triggers an error condition during message interpretation. This error condition causes the protocol message synchronization to be lost, leading to a state where portions of the subsequent protocol message are incorrectly interpreted as entirely new messages. This misinterpretation creates a cascading effect where the database server's protocol state machine becomes desynchronized, allowing attackers to manipulate the execution flow of database operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple SQL injection capabilities to include potential denial of service conditions and data manipulation attacks. Attackers can exploit this flaw to cause timeouts, query cancellations, and other protocol-level disruptions that can severely impact database availability and integrity. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require local access or authentication to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where database servers are exposed to untrusted networks. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper handling of protocol messages, and represents a significant concern for database administrators managing multiple PostgreSQL versions across their infrastructure.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and error handling in database protocol implementations. When protocol message parsing fails to maintain proper state synchronization, it creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious commands that bypass normal SQL injection protections. This vulnerability also highlights the need for robust protocol-level security measures that can prevent attackers from manipulating the communication state of database servers. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected PostgreSQL versions to mitigate this risk, as the vulnerability can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to database resources and potentially escalate privileges within the database environment. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the technique of "Protocol Manipulation" and "SQL Injection" as it leverages protocol-level flaws to execute database commands remotely.