CVE-2026-100387 in pointcloud
Summary
by MITRE • 09/25/2026
pgPointcloud through 1.2.5 contains a heap out-of-bounds read vulnerability in dimensional patch WKB deserialization that allows authenticated database users to read adjacent heap memory. Attackers can supply crafted pcpatch values with attacker-controlled size fields to copy heap memory into stored patches for exfiltration or crash the PostgreSQL backend.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2026
The pgPointcloud extension, specifically versions through 1.2.5, contains a critical security flaw rooted in its handling of Well-Known Binary (WKB) data during dimensional patch deserialization. This vulnerability manifests as a heap out-of-bounds read, which occurs when the software processes malformed or maliciously crafted pcpatch values submitted by an authenticated user. The core technical issue lies in the insufficient validation of size fields within the WKB structure. When the extension parses these structures to populate internal memory buffers for spatial data storage, it relies on attacker-controlled input to determine how much data to copy from the heap into stored patches. Because the code fails to rigorously verify that the specified size does not exceed the bounds of the allocated buffer or the available source data, it proceeds with a read operation that extends beyond the intended memory boundaries.
This architectural weakness allows an authenticated database user to exploit the flaw for two primary malicious outcomes: information disclosure and denial of service. By carefully crafting pcpatch values where the size field is manipulated to be larger than the actual payload or buffer limit, the attacker forces PostgreSQL to copy adjacent heap memory into the patch structure. This results in the exfiltration of sensitive data residing in neighboring memory locations, which may include other users' private spatial data, internal server state information, or cryptographic keys if they happen to reside in the affected memory region. Such unauthorized access constitutes a severe breach of confidentiality and integrity within the database environment.
In addition to data leakage, this vulnerability can be leveraged to destabilize the PostgreSQL backend process. The act of reading out-of-bounds heap memory can lead to segmentation faults or other critical errors if the adjacent memory is unmapped or protected by operating system security mechanisms like Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR). This capability effectively allows an attacker to crash the database server, resulting in a denial of service that disrupts availability for all legitimate users. The impact is particularly severe because it requires only authentication rather than network-level access, meaning any user with valid credentials can potentially compromise the entire system's stability and data integrity.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-125, which describes Out-of-bounds Read vulnerabilities where software reads past the end of a buffer or array. It also relates to CWE-20, Improper Input Validation, as the root cause is the failure to sanitize and validate the size parameters provided in the WKB structure before processing. In terms of offensive security frameworks, this exploit technique corresponds to ATT&CK T1567, which covers Exfiltration Over Web Services or similar data exfiltration methods via compromised applications, although here it is executed directly through database protocol interactions rather than web services. The attack vector falls under Privilege Escalation if the authenticated user gains access to higher-privileged memory regions, though primarily it represents a direct exploitation of input validation failures within an application layer component.
To mitigate this risk, immediate action must be taken by upgrading pgPointcloud to version 1.2.6 or later, where the deserialization logic has been hardened to strictly validate size fields against buffer limits before performing memory copy operations. Database administrators should also enforce strict role-based access control (RBAC) policies to ensure that only trusted users have permission to execute functions involving spatial data manipulation and WKB parsing. Additionally, enabling comprehensive logging for database errors can help in detecting attempted exploitation attempts by monitoring for frequent segmentation faults or abnormal termination of backend processes associated with specific user sessions. Regular security audits focusing on input validation practices within custom extensions are recommended to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future updates.