PostgreSQL up to 18.4 ECPG bytea integer underflow

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in PostgreSQL up to 14.23/15.18/16.14/17.10/18.4. The impacted element is an unknown function of the component ECPG. Executing a manipulation of the argument bytea can lead to integer underflow. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2026-16241. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. No exploit is available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in PostgreSQL up to 14.23/15.18/16.14/17.10/18.4. This vulnerability affects some unknown functionality of the component ECPG. The manipulation of the argument bytea with an unknown input leads to a integer underflow vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-191. The product subtracts one value from another, such that the result is less than the minimum allowable integer value, which produces a value that is not equal to the correct result. As an impact it is known to affect integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Integer underflow in PostgreSQL ECPG allows a database server administrator to achieve temporary denial of service against the ECPG client via sending a bytea value lacking the mandatory prefix. The client overwrites a huge memory region with bytes outside attacker knowledge or control. This typically yields a simple SIGSEGV, but rare cases might achieve client-specific integrity impact via the write. Versions before PostgreSQL 18.5, 17.11, 16.15, 15.19, and 14.24 are affected.

The advisory is shared for download at postgresql.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-16241 since 07/20/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploitation requires an enhanced level of successful authentication. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 14.24, 15.19, 16.15, 17.11 or 18.5 eliminates this vulnerability.

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Productinfo

Type

• Database Software

Name

• PostgreSQL

Version

• 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
• 14.14
• 14.15
• 14.16
• 14.17
• 14.18
• 14.19
• 14.20
• 14.21
• 14.22
• 14.23
• 15.0
• 15.1
• 15.2
• 15.3
• 15.4
• 15.5
• 15.6
• 15.7
• 15.8
• 15.9
• 15.10
• 15.11
• 15.12
• 15.13
• 15.14
• 15.15
• 15.16
• 15.17
• 15.18
• 16.0
• 16.1
• 16.2
• 16.3
• 16.4
• 16.5
• 16.6
• 16.7
• 16.8
• 16.9
• 16.10
• 16.11
• 16.12
• 16.13
• 16.14
• 17.0
• 17.1
• 17.2
• 17.3
• 17.4
• 17.5
• 17.6
• 17.7
• 17.8
• 17.9
• 17.10
• 18.0
• 18.1
• 18.2
• 18.3
• 18.4

License

• open-source

Website

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

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