CVE-2024-4317 in PostgreSQL
Summary
by MITRE • 05/14/2024
Missing authorization in PostgreSQL built-in views pg_stats_ext and pg_stats_ext_exprs allows an unprivileged database user to read most common values and other statistics from CREATE STATISTICS commands of other users. The most common values may reveal column values the eavesdropper could not otherwise read or results of functions they cannot execute. Installing an unaffected version only fixes fresh PostgreSQL installations, namely those that are created with the initdb utility after installing that version. Current PostgreSQL installations will remain vulnerable until they follow the instructions in the release notes. Within major versions 14-16, minor versions before PostgreSQL 16.3, 15.7, and 14.12 are affected. Versions before PostgreSQL 14 are unaffected.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-4317 represents a critical authorization bypass in PostgreSQL's built-in views pg_stats_ext and pg_stats_ext_exprs that affects database security integrity. This flaw allows unprivileged database users to access statistical information generated by CREATE STATISTICS commands executed by other users, effectively creating a data leakage channel that undermines the principle of least privilege. The issue stems from insufficient access controls within PostgreSQL's internal statistics infrastructure, where the system fails to properly enforce user-level authorization when querying extended statistics views. The vulnerability impacts PostgreSQL versions within major versions 14 through 16, specifically affecting minor versions prior to 16.3, 15.7, and 14.12, making it a widespread concern across multiple active release lines. This authorization gap directly violates the security principle that users should only access data they are explicitly permitted to read, creating potential exposure for sensitive information that might otherwise remain protected.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in PostgreSQL's statistics collection and view mechanisms, where the pg_stats_ext and pg_stats_ext_exprs views do not properly validate user permissions before returning statistical data. When database administrators or users execute CREATE STATISTICS commands, PostgreSQL generates extended statistics that include most common values and other analytical data points. These statistics are typically used for query optimization and database planning purposes, but the vulnerability allows unauthorized users to access this information through the affected views. The most common values revealed through this vulnerability can expose column data that would normally be protected by access controls, potentially including sensitive personal information, financial data, or other confidential attributes that users cannot normally read through standard database queries. This represents a significant information disclosure risk that operates at the database engine level rather than application level.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-4317 extends beyond simple data exposure to potentially enable advanced reconnaissance and attack planning by malicious actors. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gather intelligence about data distributions, identify sensitive columns through most common value patterns, and potentially infer the presence of specific data types or values that would otherwise be hidden. This information leakage could facilitate more sophisticated attacks including data fingerprinting, privilege escalation attempts, and targeted exploitation of data patterns that might reveal underlying business logic or sensitive information structures. The vulnerability's persistence across existing installations means that organizations cannot simply upgrade to fix the issue without following specific remediation procedures outlined in the release notes, creating operational complexity and potential downtime during the patching process. The fact that current installations remain vulnerable until specific instructions are followed indicates that this is not merely a software update issue but requires careful administrative intervention to properly secure existing deployments.
Organizations must implement immediate remediation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with upgrading to affected PostgreSQL versions that contain the fix, specifically PostgreSQL 16.3, 15.7, or 14.12, depending on their current major version. The upgrade process requires careful attention to the release notes, as installing an unaffected version only resolves fresh installations created with initdb utility, leaving existing installations vulnerable until proper procedures are followed. Database administrators should conduct thorough risk assessments to identify which users have access to the affected views and implement additional monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts. Security teams should consider implementing network-level controls to limit access to database statistics views, while also reviewing existing user permissions and access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel can access extended statistics information. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1213.001 (Data from Information Repositories) as it enables unauthorized access to database repository information. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing statistical data leakage scenarios.