CVE-2023-2454Network attack vector

Bootstrap-superuser code execution via lost search-path protections

Published Jun 9, 2023 · Updated Jun 4, 2025

Code execution in PostgreSQL 11 through 15 allows remote authenticated users with database-level CREATE privilege to act as bootstrap superuser. CREATE SCHEMA processes attacker-supplied schema elements without preserving protective search_path changes across certain database calls. Database owners receive CREATE by default, so a compromised owner account can run arbitrary code with the server's bootstrap-superuser authority.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability1.19%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code execution in PostgreSQL 11 through 15 allows remote authenticated users with database-level CREATE privilege to act as bootstrap superuser. CREATE SCHEMA processes attacker-supplied schema elements without preserving protective search_path changes across certain database calls. Database owners receive CREATE by default, so a compromised owner account can run arbitrary code with the server's bootstrap-superuser authority.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-2454
Published
Jun 9, 2023
Updated
Jun 4, 2025
Vendor
PostgreSQL Global Development Group
Product
PostgreSQL
Classifications
CWE-20, T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 9, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jun 4, 2025Record 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 15.3, PostgreSQL 14.8, PostgreSQL 13.11, PostgreSQL 12.15, PostgreSQL 11.20

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

PostgreSQL Global Development Group · PostgreSQLversion=PostgreSQL 15.3, PostgreSQL 14.8, PostgreSQL 13.11, PostgreSQL 12.15, PostgreSQL 11.20

Published CVSS scores

7.2PostgreSQL Global Development GroupCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/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-20Improper Input Validation
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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