CVE-2022-1552Network attack vector

Superuser SQL execution via delayed sandboxing

Published Aug 31, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Privilege escalation in PostgreSQL 10 through 14 allows remote authenticated users to execute SQL functions as a superuser. Autovacuum, REINDEX, CREATE INDEX, REFRESH MATERIALIZED VIEW, CLUSTER, and pg_amcheck activate security-restricted-operation protections too late or not at all while processing attacker-created objects. Exploitation requires CREATE permission for non-temporary objects in a schema and can expose, alter, or interrupt data under the bootstrap superuser identity.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability15.97%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in PostgreSQL 10 through 14 allows remote authenticated users to execute SQL functions as a superuser. Autovacuum, REINDEX, CREATE INDEX, REFRESH MATERIALIZED VIEW, CLUSTER, and pg_amcheck activate security-restricted-operation protections too late or not at all while processing attacker-created objects. Exploitation requires CREATE permission for non-temporary objects in a schema and can expose, alter, or interrupt data under the bootstrap superuser identity.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-1552
Published
Aug 31, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
PostgreSQL Global Development Group
Product
PostgreSQL
Classifications
CWE-89, T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 31, 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=Fixed in postgresql 14.3, postgresql 13.7, postgresql 12.11, postgresql 11.16, postgresql 10.21.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

PostgreSQL Global Development Group · PostgreSQLversion=Fixed in postgresql 14.3, postgresql 13.7, postgresql 12.11, postgresql 11.16, postgresql 10.21.

Published CVSS scores

8.8NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8PostgreSQL Global Development GroupCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-89Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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