PostgreSQL up to 10.0 link following

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5.9	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in PostgreSQL up to 10.0. Impacted is an unknown function. Such manipulation leads to link following. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2017-12172. The attack needs to be performed locally. There is not any exploit available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in PostgreSQL up to 10.0 (Database Software) and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is an unknown functionality. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a link following vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-59. The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

PostgreSQL 10.x before 10.1, 9.6.x before 9.6.6, 9.5.x before 9.5.10, 9.4.x before 9.4.15, 9.3.x before 9.3.20, and 9.2.x before 9.2.24 runs under a non-root operating system account, and database superusers have effective ability to run arbitrary code under that system account. PostgreSQL provides a script for starting the database server during system boot. Packages of PostgreSQL for many operating systems provide their own, packager-authored startup implementations. Several implementations use a log file name that the database superuser can replace with a symbolic link. As root, they open(), chmod() and/or chown() this log file name. This often suffices for the database superuser to escalate to root privileges when root starts the server.

The bug was discovered 11/09/2017. The weakness was released 11/22/2017 (Website). The advisory is shared for download at securityfocus.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2017-12172 since 08/01/2017. The attack needs to be approached locally. The successful exploitation needs a simple authentication. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 104574 (PostgreSQL 9.2.x < 9.2.24 / 9.3.x < 9.3.20 / 9.4.x < 9.4.15 / 9.5.x < 9.5.10 / 9.6.x < 9.6.6 / 10.x < 10.1 Multiple Vulnerabilities), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Databases and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 277050 (Fedora Security Update for postgresql (FEDORA-2017-1f1fdab532)).

Upgrading to version 9.2.24, 9.3.20, 9.4.15, 9.5.10, 9.6.6 or 10.1 eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published even before and not after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (104574), SecurityFocus (BID 101949†) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2024-0143). Entries connected to this vulnerability are available at VDB-109800 and VDB-109801. Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Open Source CentOS
• Debian Linux
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• Open Source PostgreSQL
• IBM Security Verify Access
• Dell NetWorker

Productinfo

Type

• Database Software

Name

• PostgreSQL

Version

• 9.2.0
• 9.2.1
• 9.2.2
• 9.2.3
• 9.2.4
• 9.2.5
• 9.2.6
• 9.2.7
• 9.2.8
• 9.2.9
• 9.2.10
• 9.2.11
• 9.2.12
• 9.2.13
• 9.2.14
• 9.2.15
• 9.2.16
• 9.2.17
• 9.2.18
• 9.2.19
• 9.2.20
• 9.2.21
• 9.2.22
• 9.2.23
• 9.3.0
• 9.3.1
• 9.3.2
• 9.3.3
• 9.3.4
• 9.3.5
• 9.3.6
• 9.3.7
• 9.3.8
• 9.3.9
• 9.3.10
• 9.3.11
• 9.3.12
• 9.3.13
• 9.3.14
• 9.3.15
• 9.3.16
• 9.3.17
• 9.3.18
• 9.3.19
• 9.4.0
• 9.4.1
• 9.4.2
• 9.4.3
• 9.4.4
• 9.4.5
• 9.4.6
• 9.4.7
• 9.4.8
• 9.4.9
• 9.4.10
• 9.4.11
• 9.4.12
• 9.4.13
• 9.4.14
• 9.5.0
• 9.5.1
• 9.5.2
• 9.5.3
• 9.5.4
• 9.5.5
• 9.5.6
• 9.5.7
• 9.5.8
• 9.5.9
• 9.6.0
• 9.6.1
• 9.6.2
• 9.6.3
• 9.6.4
• 9.6.5
• 10.0

License

• open-source

Website

• Product: https://www.postgresql.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CPE 2.2info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.9

VulDB Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Temp Score: 5.1
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 6.7
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Link following
CWE: CWE-59
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 104574
Nessus Name: PostgreSQL 9.2.x < 9.2.24 / 9.3.x < 9.3.20 / 9.4.x < 9.4.15 / 9.5.x < 9.5.10 / 9.6.x < 9.6.6 / 10.x < 10.1 Multiple Vulnerabilities
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 60442
OpenVAS Name: RedHat Update for postgresql RHSA-2017:3402-01
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: PostgreSQL 9.2.24/9.3.20/9.4.15/9.5.10/9.6.6/10.1

Timelineinfo

08/01/2017 🔍
11/09/2017 +100 days 🔍
11/09/2017 +0 days 🔍
11/09/2017 +0 days 🔍
11/15/2017 +6 days 🔍
11/22/2017 +7 days 🔍
11/22/2017 +0 days 🔍
11/23/2017 +1 days 🔍
08/02/2025 +2809 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Product: postgresql.org

Advisory: RHSA-2017:3402⛔
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2017-12172 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2017-12172
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-109796
SecurityFocus: 101949 - PostgreSQL CVE-2017-12172 Remote Privilege Escalation Vulnerabilities
SecurityTracker: 1039752
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2024-0143 - PostgreSQL: Mehrere Schwachstellen

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 11/23/2017 07:40
Updated: 08/02/2025 13:55
Changes: 11/23/2017 07:40 (72), 12/09/2019 14:17 (6), 01/24/2021 22:37 (2), 01/11/2023 09:02 (3), 08/02/2025 13:55 (23)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:C8F:103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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