Query-response injection via buffered plaintext bytes
Published Mar 2, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024
Improper input validation in libpq 9.6 through 14 allows man-in-the-middle attackers to inject false responses into early client queries. The socket reader retains bytes received with the server's encryption reply, then treats them as decrypted after SSL or GSS setup. Exploitation requires control of the TCP path; confidential-data exfiltration additionally requires a specially configured vulnerable server and later server access.
Summary
What happened
Improper input validation in libpq 9.6 through 14 allows man-in-the-middle attackers to inject false responses into early client queries. The socket reader retains bytes received with the server's encryption reply, then treats them as decrypted after SSL or GSS setup. Exploitation requires control of the TCP path; confidential-data exfiltration additionally requires a specially configured vulnerable server and later server access.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-23222
- Published
- Mar 2, 2022
- Updated
- Aug 3, 2024
- Vendor
- PostgreSQL Global Development Group
- Product
- libpq
- Classifications
- CWE-522, T1557
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Mar 2, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=Affects v9.6 to v14
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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