CVE-2024-4215 in pgAdmin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/02/2024
pgAdmin <= 8.5 is affected by a multi-factor authentication bypass vulnerability. This vulnerability allows an attacker with knowledge of a legitimate account’s username and password may authenticate to the application and perform sensitive actions within the application, such as managing files and executing SQL queries, regardless of the account’s MFA enrollment status.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-4215 represents a critical authentication flaw in pgAdmin versions 8.5 and earlier, where the multi-factor authentication mechanism fails to properly enforce security controls. This issue stems from a design weakness in the application's authentication flow that allows unauthorized access even when users have enrolled in multi-factor authentication. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication pipeline where the system does not adequately validate the MFA status of authenticated users before granting administrative privileges. This flaw enables attackers to bypass the intended security controls that should prevent unauthorized access to sensitive database management functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the authentication validation logic where the system accepts valid username and password combinations without verifying whether the user has completed the required multi-factor authentication process. This represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a clear violation of authentication security requirements. The flaw exists at the application layer where session management and access control decisions are made, creating a path for privilege escalation through improper authentication state handling. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-305: Authentication Bypass Using Alternative Input, as it allows bypass of authentication mechanisms through alternative means. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004: Valid Accounts - SSH, where legitimate credentials are used to gain access to systems despite additional security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations relying on pgAdmin for database administration tasks. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary SQL queries, manage database files, and potentially access sensitive data without proper authorization. The vulnerability undermines the security posture of database environments where pgAdmin is used for administrative access, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized modifications, and privilege escalation attacks. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to critical database resources, including user credentials, financial data, and proprietary information. The security implications extend beyond simple unauthorized access as the vulnerability allows attackers to perform administrative functions that could result in data loss, system compromise, or regulatory compliance violations.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to pgAdmin version 8.6 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper authentication flow enforcement. The mitigation strategy involves implementing comprehensive access control measures including mandatory MFA enforcement, regular security audits of authentication mechanisms, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as network segmentation, privileged access management solutions, and continuous monitoring of database administrative activities. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected pgAdmin installations and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. The fix typically involves strengthening the authentication validation logic to ensure that all authenticated sessions properly verify MFA status before granting administrative privileges, thereby preventing the bypass condition that enables this vulnerability.