CVE-2021-32029Network attack vector

Authenticated memory disclosure via partitioned UPDATE RETURNING

Published Oct 8, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

PostgreSQL 11, 12, and 13 before 11.12, 12.7, and 13.3 allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary server memory via crafted partitioned-table UPDATE ... RETURNING commands. The partitioned-table UPDATE ... RETURNING execution path mishandles internally generated values, allowing bytes outside the intended row data to be returned. Exploitation requires database authentication and privileges to create prerequisite tables and schemas; impact is confined to disclosure of server-process memory.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability1.50%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

PostgreSQL 11, 12, and 13 before 11.12, 12.7, and 13.3 allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary server memory via crafted partitioned-table UPDATE ... RETURNING commands. The partitioned-table UPDATE ... RETURNING execution path mishandles internally generated values, allowing bytes outside the intended row data to be returned. Exploitation requires database authentication and privileges to create prerequisite tables and schemas; impact is confined to disclosure of server-process memory.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-32029
Published
Oct 8, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
PostgreSQL Global Development Group
Product
PostgreSQL
Classifications
CWE-200, CWE-125, T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 8, 2021CVE 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=postgresql 13.3, postgresql 12.7, postgresql 11.12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

PostgreSQL Global Development Group · PostgreSQLversion=postgresql 13.3, postgresql 12.7, postgresql 11.12

Published CVSS scores

6.5PostgreSQL Global Development GroupCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
4.0NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:N

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-200Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
CWE-125Out-of-bounds Read
T1005Data from Local System

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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