CVE-2025-46801 in Pgpool-II
Summary
by MITRE • 05/19/2025
Pgpool-II provided by PgPool Global Development Group contains an authentication bypass by primary weakness vulnerability. if the vulnerability is exploited, an attacker may be able to log in to the system as an arbitrary user, allowing them to read or tamper with data in the database, and/or disable the database.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-46801 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within Pgpool-II, a widely deployed database connection pooling and replication system developed by PgPool Global Development Group. This issue stems from a primary weakness in the authentication mechanism that allows unauthorized access to database resources. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication flow where proper credential verification fails to occur, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass standard security controls. Pgpool-II serves as a crucial middleware component in many database environments, acting as a proxy between client applications and backend database servers while providing connection pooling, load balancing, and replication capabilities. The authentication bypass vulnerability fundamentally undermines the security model of the system, as it enables attackers to establish database sessions without proper authorization, potentially gaining access to sensitive data and system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through a flaw in how Pgpool-II processes authentication requests and validates user credentials. When an attacker exploits this weakness, they can manipulate the authentication flow to authenticate as any user within the system's access controls, including administrative accounts. This primary weakness typically involves improper validation of authentication tokens, session management flaws, or bypass of credential checking mechanisms within the Pgpool-II authentication subsystem. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation can lead to complete database compromise where attackers can read, modify, or delete sensitive information, disable database services, or perform other malicious activities. The authentication bypass occurs at the application layer, affecting the integrity and confidentiality of database operations while potentially disrupting database availability.
The operational implications of CVE-2025-46801 are severe and far-reaching for organizations utilizing Pgpool-II in their database infrastructure. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to database resources, potentially leading to data breaches, information disclosure, and system compromise. The impact includes unauthorized data manipulation, which can result in financial losses, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage. Organizations may face significant operational disruption as database services become compromised, potentially leading to service outages and business continuity issues. The vulnerability affects database administrators' ability to maintain proper access controls and audit trails, as unauthorized users can bypass logging mechanisms and establish persistent access to database resources. This authentication bypass creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for extended periods without detection, making it particularly dangerous for environments with sensitive data or critical business operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-46801 should prioritize immediate patching and configuration hardening measures to address the authentication bypass vulnerability. Organizations must apply the vendor-provided security updates and patches as soon as they become available, while simultaneously implementing network segmentation to limit access to Pgpool-II instances. The implementation of additional authentication layers, such as multi-factor authentication and enhanced access controls, can provide defense-in-depth protection against exploitation attempts. Network monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect unusual authentication patterns and unauthorized access attempts. Security administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all Pgpool-II instances within their environment and ensure proper access controls are implemented. Regular security audits and penetration testing can help identify potential exploitation vectors and validate the effectiveness of implemented mitigations. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, while ATT&CK framework references this as T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering techniques that could be employed to exploit the bypass. Organizations should also implement proper logging and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts and maintain detailed audit trails for forensic analysis.