CVE-2021-23214Network attack vector

SQL injection via buffered pre-handshake plaintext

Published Mar 4, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

SQL injection in PostgreSQL allows man-in-the-middle attackers to execute arbitrary SQL during encrypted connection startup. ProcessStartupPacket retained bytes received alongside the initial SSL or GSS request and treated that pre-handshake plaintext as decrypted protocol data after encryption completed. Exploitation requires a network interception position and trust authentication with clientcert or cert authentication, and injected commands run with the requested database role's privileges.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability1.90%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

SQL injection in PostgreSQL allows man-in-the-middle attackers to execute arbitrary SQL during encrypted connection startup. ProcessStartupPacket retained bytes received alongside the initial SSL or GSS request and treated that pre-handshake plaintext as decrypted protocol data after encryption completed. Exploitation requires a network interception position and trust authentication with clientcert or cert authentication, and injected commands run with the requested database role's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-23214
Published
Mar 4, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
PostgreSQL Global Development Group
Product
PostgreSQL
Classifications
CWE-89, T1557
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 4, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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=Affects v9.6 to v14

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

PostgreSQL Global Development Group · PostgreSQLversion=Affects v9.6 to v14

Published CVSS scores

8.1PostgreSQL Global Development GroupCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.1NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
8.1NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-89Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
T1557Adversary-in-the-Middle

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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