CVE-2015-0242Network attack vector

Authenticated server crash via oversized numeric precision

Published Jan 27, 2020 · Updated Aug 6, 2024

Stack buffer overflow in PostgreSQL 9.4.0 and affected earlier branches allows remote authenticated users to crash Windows database servers. The replacement printf family writes past a stack buffer when to_char formats a floating-point value with requested precision above about 500. A database login is required; the confirmed outcome is a server crash, while extensions using the replacement routines can expose the same condition.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability5.14%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stack buffer overflow in PostgreSQL 9.4.0 and affected earlier branches allows remote authenticated users to crash Windows database servers. The replacement printf family writes past a stack buffer when to_char formats a floating-point value with requested precision above about 500. A database login is required; the confirmed outcome is a server crash, while extensions using the replacement routines can expose the same condition.

The record

CVE
CVE-2015-0242
Published
Jan 27, 2020
Updated
Aug 6, 2024
Vendor
PostgreSQL Global Development Group
Product
PostgreSQL
Classifications
CWE-787, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 27, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 6, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=9.1.x before 9.1.15
  2. Affected versionversion=9.2.x before 9.2.10
  3. Affected versionversion=9.3.x before 9.3.6
  4. Affected versionversion=9.4.x before 9.4.1
  5. Affected versionversion=before 9.0.19

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

PostgreSQL Global Development Group · PostgreSQLversion=9.1.x before 9.1.15; version=9.2.x before 9.2.10; version=9.3.x before 9.3.6; version=9.4.x before 9.4.1; version=before 9.0.19

Published CVSS scores

4.2PostgreSQL Global Development GroupCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
8.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.5NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1499.004Endpoint Denial of Service: Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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