CVE-2017-15097 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Privilege escalation flaws were found in the Red Hat initialization scripts of PostgreSQL. An attacker with access to the postgres user account could use these flaws to obtain root access on the server machine.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15097 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Red Hat initialization scripts for PostgreSQL database management system. This weakness specifically targets the security controls implemented during the PostgreSQL service initialization process on Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems, creating an exploitable pathway for attackers who have already gained access to the postgres user account. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement during service startup operations, where the initialization scripts do not properly validate or restrict the privileges available to the postgres user during the boot sequence.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of file permissions and ownership during the PostgreSQL service initialization process. When the initialization scripts execute, they fail to adequately secure critical system resources or maintain proper privilege boundaries between the postgres user context and the underlying system. This allows an attacker who has compromised the postgres user account to leverage the flawed initialization logic to escalate their privileges to the root user level. The vulnerability specifically manifests in scenarios where the initialization scripts contain insecure file operations or execute commands with elevated privileges without proper validation mechanisms.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe security risk for PostgreSQL installations on Red Hat systems, as it effectively eliminates the security boundary between the database user account and the root administrative privileges. Attackers who gain access to the postgres user through any means such as SQL injection, weak authentication, or other database-level exploits can immediately leverage this privilege escalation to gain complete system control. The implications extend beyond simple database compromise, as root access provides attackers with unrestricted access to system files, network configurations, user accounts, and the ability to establish persistent backdoors or exfiltrate sensitive data from the entire system infrastructure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper file permissions, and reflects the ATT&CK technique T1068, privilege escalation through insecure service configuration. Security professionals should consider implementing additional monitoring and access controls around the PostgreSQL initialization scripts and related system files. Recommended mitigations include applying the vendor-provided security patches immediately, reviewing and hardening the initialization script permissions, implementing stricter file access controls for PostgreSQL-related system files, and conducting comprehensive security audits of service initialization processes. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation, privilege monitoring, and regular security assessments to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting similar initialization script vulnerabilities across their infrastructure.