PostgreSQL up to 17.0 Environment Variable external control of setting

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in PostgreSQL up to 17.0. It has been declared as very critical. This affects an unknown function of the component Environment Variable Handler. The manipulation results in external control of setting. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2024-10979. The attack can be executed remotely. There is not any exploit available. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, was found in PostgreSQL up to 17.0. Affected is some unknown processing of the component Environment Variable Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a external control of setting vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-15. One or more system settings or configuration elements can be externally controlled by a user. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Incorrect control of environment variables in PostgreSQL PL/Perl allows an unprivileged database user to change sensitive process environment variables (e.g. PATH). That often suffices to enable arbitrary code execution, even if the attacker lacks a database server operating system user. Versions before PostgreSQL 17.1, 16.5, 15.9, 14.14, 13.17, and 12.21 are affected.

The advisory is shared for download at postgresql.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2024-10979 since 11/07/2024. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 11/07/2025).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 211488 (Debian dla-3954 : libecpg-compat3 - security update), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 12.21, 13.17, 14.14, 15.9, 16.5 or 17.1 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (211488) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2024-3475). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• Gentoo Linux
• IBM Business Automation Workflow
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Broadcom Brocade SANnav
• Open Source PostgreSQL
• IBM Storage Scale
• IBM Sterling Connect:Direct
• IBM QRadar SIEM
• Progress Software WS_FTP
• Hitachi Ops Center
• SolarWinds Security Event Manager
• Dell PowerProtect Data Domain

Productinfo

Type

• Database Software

Name

• PostgreSQL

Version

• 12.0
• 12.1
• 12.2
• 12.3
• 12.4
• 12.5
• 12.6
• 12.7
• 12.8
• 12.9
• 12.10
• 12.11
• 12.12
• 12.13
• 12.14
• 12.15
• 12.16
• 12.17
• 12.18
• 12.19
• 12.20
• 13.0
• 13.1
• 13.2
• 13.3
• 13.4
• 13.5
• 13.6
• 13.7
• 13.8
• 13.9
• 13.10
• 13.11
• 13.12
• 13.13
• 13.14
• 13.15
• 13.16
• 14.0
• 14.1
• 14.2
• 14.3
• 14.4
• 14.5
• 14.6
• 14.7
• 14.8
• 14.9
• 14.10
• 14.11
• 14.12
• 14.13
• 15.0
• 15.1
• 15.2
• 15.3
• 15.4
• 15.5
• 15.6
• 15.7
• 15.8
• 16.0
• 16.1
• 16.2
• 16.3
• 16.4
• 17.0

License

• open-source

Website

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

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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