CVE-2026-14673
Description
An untrusted search path vulnerability in PostgreSQL's amcheck module allows a user with EXECUTE privileges to escalate privileges or execute arbitrary code. By setting a malicious search path before invoking an amcheck function, an attacker can hijack execution to run arbitrary SQL functions with the elevated permissions of the expression index owner.
Statement
This vulnerability is rated as Low impact because exploitation requires an attacker to already possess EXECUTE privileges on amcheck functions. The necessity of having this pre-existing, elevated database access to manipulate the search path significantly limits the likelihood of successful privilege escalation.
Mitigation
Do not GRANT EXECUTE on amcheck functions (bt_index_check, bt_index_parent_check, verify_heapam, and related) to non-superuser roles. If index verification is unused, drop the extension (DROP EXTENSION amcheck). Restrict PostgreSQL to trusted clients.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 3.8 | N/A | 3.8 |
| Attack Vector | Network | N/A | Network |
| Attack Complexity | Low | N/A | Low |
| Privileges Required | High | N/A | High |
| User Interaction | None | N/A | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | Low | N/A | Low |
| Integrity Impact | Low | N/A | Low |
| Availability Impact | None | N/A | None |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability,Access Control
Technical Impact: Gain Privileges or Assume Identity; Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
There is the potential for arbitrary code execution with privileges of the vulnerable program.
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
The program could be redirected to the wrong files, potentially triggering a crash or hang when the targeted file is too large or does not have the expected format.
Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Read Files or Directories
The program could send the output of unauthorized files to the attacker.
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