SUBJECT: CVE-2020-25696
TECH STACK: PostgreSQL
- Versions before 13.1
- Versions before 12.5
- Versions before 11.10
- Versions before 10.15
- Versions before 9.6.20
- Versions before 9.5.24
DATE(S) ISSUED: CVE-2020-25696 was officially disclosed on October 7, 2020.
CRITICALITY: HIGH
OVERVIEW:
CVE-2020-25696 is classified as a high-severity vulnerability. The vulnerability resides in the way PostgreSQL handles certain error messages when processing crafted database queries. Exploiting this vulnerability could allow an authenticated attacker with limited privileges to gain additional privileges or execute arbitrary SQL queries.
By carefully constructing a malicious database query and manipulating the error response from the server, an attacker could potentially bypass certain access restrictions or retrieve sensitive information. The vulnerability primarily affects the error handling mechanism of PostgreSQL and can be leveraged by an attacker who already has valid database credentials but lacks full administrative privileges.
It's important to note that this vulnerability requires an authenticated attacker, meaning they must have valid credentials to connect to the database. Remote exploitation without valid credentials is not possible with this vulnerability alone.
SOLUTION:
To address the vulnerability and protect the PostgreSQL installation, it is highly recommended to upgrade to a fixed version. PostgreSQL project provides security updates to address vulnerabilities, including CVE-2020-25696. Users should update their PostgreSQL installations to versions 13.1, 12.5, 11.10, 10.15, 9.6.20, or 9.5.24, or newer, depending on the version currently in use.
It's crucial to follow the official documentation and guidelines provided by the PostgreSQL project or the respective distribution maintainers to perform the upgrade process correctly. Additionally, it is advisable to monitor official sources for any security advisories and apply future updates promptly to maintain a secure database environment.
REFERENCES:
MITRE CVE-2020-25696: Link to MITRE CVE-2020-25696
NVD entry for CVE-2020-25696: Link to NVD CVE-2020-25696
PostgreSQL Official Website: Link to PostgreSQL
GENTOO:GLSA-202012-07
URL:https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202012-07
MISC:https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1894430
URL:https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1894430
MISC:https://www.postgresql.org/about/news/postgresql-131-125-1110-1015-9620-and-9524-released-2111/
URL:https://www.postgresql.org/about/news/postgresql-131-125-1110-1015-9620-and-9524-released-2111/
MLIST:[debian-lts-announce] 20201202 [SECURITY] [DLA 2478-1] postgresql-9.6 security update
URL:https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/12/msg00005.html
