Vulnerability-Lookup

GHSA-R6V6-V5R9-3GGH

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-05-14 15:31 – Updated: 2026-05-14 15:31

Details

Covert timing channel in comparison of MD5-hashed password in PostgreSQL authentication allows an attacker to recover user credentials sufficient to authenticate. This does not affect scram-sha-256 passwords, the default in all supported releases. However, current databases may have MD5-hashed passwords originating in upgrades from PostgreSQL 13 or earlier. Versions before PostgreSQL 18.4, 17.10, 16.14, 15.18, and 14.23 are affected.

Severity ?

6.5 (Medium)


                  
                    CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N

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{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-6478"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-385"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-05-14T14:16:25Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "Covert timing channel in comparison of MD5-hashed password in PostgreSQL authentication allows an attacker to recover user credentials sufficient to authenticate.  This does not affect scram-sha-256 passwords, the default in all supported releases.  However, current databases may have MD5-hashed passwords originating in upgrades from PostgreSQL 13 or earlier.  Versions before PostgreSQL 18.4, 17.10, 16.14, 15.18, and 14.23 are affected.",
  "id": "GHSA-r6v6-v5r9-3ggh",
  "modified": "2026-05-14T15:31:58Z",
  "published": "2026-05-14T15:31:58Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-6478"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.postgresql.org/support/security/CVE-2026-6478"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

CVE-2026-6478 (GCVE-0-2026-6478)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-05-14 13:00 – Updated: 2026-05-14 15:33

Title

PostgreSQL discloses MD5-hashed passwords via covert timing channel

Summary

Severity ?

6.5 (Medium)


                        
                          CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N

CWE

CWE-385 - Covert Timing Channel

Assigner

PostgreSQL

References

1 reference

URL	Tags
https://www.postgresql.org/support/security/CVE-2…

Impacted products

1 product

Vendor	Product	Version
n/a	PostgreSQL	Affected: 18 , < 18.4 (rpm) Affected: 17 , < 17.10 (rpm) Affected: 16 , < 16.14 (rpm) Affected: 15 , < 15.18 (rpm) Affected: 0 , < 14.23 (rpm)

Credits

The PostgreSQL project thanks Joe Conway for reporting this problem.

Show details on NVD website

JSON

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{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "metrics": [
          {
            "other": {
              "content": {
                "id": "CVE-2026-6478",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "Exploitation": "none"
                  },
                  {
                    "Automatable": "yes"
                  },
                  {
                    "Technical Impact": "partial"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2026-05-14T15:32:42.868340Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              },
              "type": "ssvc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2026-05-14T15:33:03.332Z",
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
        },
        "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected",
          "product": "PostgreSQL",
          "vendor": "n/a",
          "versions": [
            {
              "lessThan": "18.4",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "18",
              "versionType": "rpm"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "17.10",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "17",
              "versionType": "rpm"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "16.14",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "16",
              "versionType": "rpm"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "15.18",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "15",
              "versionType": "rpm"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "14.23",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "0",
              "versionType": "rpm"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "configurations": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "victim user has a usable MD5 password"
        }
      ],
      "credits": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "The PostgreSQL project thanks Joe Conway for reporting this problem."
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "Covert timing channel in comparison of MD5-hashed password in PostgreSQL authentication allows an attacker to recover user credentials sufficient to authenticate.  This does not affect scram-sha-256 passwords, the default in all supported releases.  However, current databases may have MD5-hashed passwords originating in upgrades from PostgreSQL 13 or earlier.  Versions before PostgreSQL 18.4, 17.10, 16.14, 15.18, and 14.23 are affected."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV3_1": {
            "baseScore": 6.5,
            "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N",
            "version": "3.1"
          },
          "format": "CVSS"
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-385",
              "description": "Covert Timing Channel",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-05-14T13:00:13.174Z",
        "orgId": "f86ef6dc-4d3a-42ad-8f28-e6d5547a5007",
        "shortName": "PostgreSQL"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "url": "https://www.postgresql.org/support/security/CVE-2026-6478/"
        }
      ],
      "title": "PostgreSQL discloses MD5-hashed passwords via covert timing channel",
      "workarounds": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "reset password with password_encryption=scram-sha-256"
        }
      ]
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "f86ef6dc-4d3a-42ad-8f28-e6d5547a5007",
    "assignerShortName": "PostgreSQL",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-6478",
    "datePublished": "2026-05-14T13:00:13.174Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-04-17T00:44:57.549Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-05-14T15:33:03.332Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2"
}

Sightings

Author	Source	Type	Date	Other

Nomenclature

Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.

Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.

Action not permitted

GHSA-R6V6-V5R9-3GGH

CVE-2026-6478 (GCVE-0-2026-6478)

Tags

Sightings

Nomenclature