CVE-2023-5868 in PostgreSQL
Summary
by MITRE • 12/10/2023
A memory disclosure vulnerability was found in PostgreSQL that allows remote users to access sensitive information by exploiting certain aggregate function calls with 'unknown'-type arguments. Handling 'unknown'-type values from string literals without type designation can disclose bytes, potentially revealing notable and confidential information. This issue exists due to excessive data output in aggregate function calls, enabling remote users to read some portion of system memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2025
This vulnerability in PostgreSQL represents a critical memory disclosure flaw that fundamentally undermines the database's security model through improper handling of unknown-type arguments in aggregate functions. The vulnerability stems from the database's inability to properly sanitize input when processing string literals that lack explicit type designation, creating an avenue for remote attackers to extract sensitive data from memory addresses. The flaw specifically manifests during the execution of aggregate function calls where PostgreSQL encounters 'unknown'-type arguments, leading to unintended data exposure through excessive output mechanisms that bypass normal access controls and data sanitization protocols.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2023-5868 leverages PostgreSQL's type resolution system, where the database engine attempts to infer types for string literals that lack explicit designation, creating a pathway for memory dumping through aggregate function processing. When PostgreSQL processes these unknown-type arguments within aggregate contexts, the system's internal memory structures become accessible through the function's output mechanisms, potentially exposing confidential information including database connection details, user credentials, system paths, and other sensitive operational data. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure Through Output Cleaning," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for "Data from Information Repositories" as it enables unauthorized data extraction from database systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed memory segments may contain critical system information that could facilitate further attacks, including privilege escalation, lateral movement, or targeted exploitation of other system components. Remote attackers can systematically exploit this vulnerability to gather intelligence about the database environment, potentially identifying version-specific weaknesses, configuration details, and operational patterns that could be leveraged in subsequent attack phases. The vulnerability affects PostgreSQL versions prior to 16.1, 15.5, 14.10, 13.13, and 12.17, making it particularly concerning for organizations maintaining multiple PostgreSQL installations across different versions, as the memory disclosure could expose sensitive information from any vulnerable system.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected PostgreSQL installations to address this memory disclosure vulnerability, while implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure during the remediation process. Additional mitigations include monitoring database logs for unusual aggregate function usage patterns, implementing strict input validation for string literals, and considering the deployment of database activity monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper type handling in database systems and demonstrates how seemingly benign type inference mechanisms can create significant security risks when combined with insufficient output sanitization, particularly in environments where database systems handle sensitive data and require robust protection against information disclosure attacks.