PostgreSQL pg_basebackup can use backup manifest content as a format string

MITRE NVD CVE.ORG JSON API

Summary

CVECVE-2026-16240
StatePUBLISHED
AssignerPostgreSQL
Source PriorityCVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback
Published2026-11-12 15:17:50 UTC
Updated2026-11-12 22:19:21 UTC
DescriptionUse of externally-controlled format string in PostgreSQL pg_basebackup allows an attacker having already compromised a server to achieve disclosure from pg_basebackup memory, via backup manifest bytes. The vulnerability does not return the improperly-read bytes back to the attacker's server, so a successful attack would need separate implementation-specific secrets for that. Integrity impact is unlikely; in particular, the applicable formatter does not support %n. Versions before PostgreSQL 18.7, 17.12, 16.16, 15.20, and 14.25 are affected.

Risk And Classification

Primary CVSS: v3.1 3.7 LOW from f86ef6dc-4d3a-42ad-8f28-e6d5547a5007

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

Problem Types: CWE-134 | CWE-134 Use of Externally-Controlled Format String

VersionSourceTypeScoreSeverityVector
3.1f86ef6dc-4d3a-42ad-8f28-e6d5547a5007Secondary3.7LOWCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
3.1CNACVSS3.7LOWCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

CVSS v3.1 Breakdown

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
None
Availability
None

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

Vendor Declared Affected Products

SourceVendorProductVersionPlatforms
CNA Na PostgreSQL affected 18 18.7 rpm Not specified
CNA Na PostgreSQL affected 17 17.12 rpm Not specified
CNA Na PostgreSQL affected 16 16.16 rpm Not specified
CNA Na PostgreSQL affected 15 15.20 rpm Not specified
CNA Na PostgreSQL affected 14.25 rpm Not specified

References

ReferenceSourceLinkTags
www.postgresql.org/support/security/CVE-2026-16240 f86ef6dc-4d3a-42ad-8f28-e6d5547a5007 www.postgresql.org
CVE Program record CVE.ORG www.cve.org canonical
NVD vulnerability detail NVD nvd.nist.gov canonical, analysis

Vendor Comments And Credit

Discovery Credit

CNA: The PostgreSQL project thanks Peter Eisentraut for reporting this problem. (en)

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