CVE-2026-2003 in PostgreSQL
Summary
by MITRE • 02/12/2026
Improper validation of type "oidvector" in PostgreSQL allows a database user to disclose a few bytes of server memory. We have not ruled out viability of attacks that arrange for presence of confidential information in disclosed bytes, but they seem unlikely. Versions before PostgreSQL 18.2, 17.8, 16.12, 15.16, and 14.21 are affected.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-2003 represents a critical memory disclosure issue within PostgreSQL's handling of the oidvector data type. This flaw exists in the database's type validation mechanism where insufficient input sanitization allows malicious users to extract fragments of server memory through carefully crafted queries. The vulnerability specifically affects PostgreSQL versions prior to 18.2, 17.8, 16.12, 15.16, and 14.21, indicating a widespread impact across multiple major release lines. The oidvector type is commonly used in PostgreSQL to store arrays of object identifiers, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for systems that rely heavily on such data structures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking and memory access validation within PostgreSQL's internal type handling routines. When processing oidvector inputs, the database fails to properly validate the length and structure of the input data, allowing attackers to manipulate the parsing logic to read beyond allocated memory boundaries. This memory leakage occurs through indirect access patterns that exploit the way PostgreSQL's type system handles array-like data structures, particularly when dealing with malformed or oversized oidvector inputs. The vulnerability operates at the database engine level, bypassing application-level security controls and directly accessing the server's memory space.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive data that may be present in the leaked memory segments. While the immediate exposure is limited to a few bytes of memory, these fragments could potentially contain database connection details, authentication tokens, cryptographic keys, or other confidential information if such data happens to reside in the affected memory regions. The attack vector typically involves crafting specific SQL queries that trigger the vulnerable code path, making this a remote exploit that could be automated. This vulnerability particularly affects systems where PostgreSQL is used as a backend for applications handling sensitive data, such as financial services, healthcare systems, or government databases.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2026-2003 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to PostgreSQL 18.2, 17.8, 16.12, 15.16, or 14.21, which contain the necessary patches to address the memory validation issues. Organizations should also implement network-level access controls to limit database exposure and restrict database user privileges to minimize potential attack surface. Database administrators should monitor for unusual query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts and consider implementing database activity monitoring tools to detect anomalous memory access patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and may map to ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for data manipulation and credential access. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their database environments to identify potential exploitation vectors and ensure that all database instances are properly patched and monitored for similar vulnerabilities.