Vulnerabilities > CVE-2020-10733 - Untrusted Search Path vulnerability in Postgresql

047910
CVSS 4.4 - MEDIUM
Attack vector
LOCAL
Attack complexity
MEDIUM
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
PARTIAL
Integrity impact
PARTIAL
Availability impact
PARTIAL
local
postgresql
CWE-426
nessus
NVD
Published: 2020-09-16
Updated: 2022-01-06

Summary

The Windows installer for PostgreSQL 9.5 - 12 invokes system-provided executables that do not have fully-qualified paths. Executables in the directory where the installer loads or the current working directory take precedence over the intended executables. An attacker having permission to add files into one of those directories can use this to execute arbitrary code with the installer's administrative rights.

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
Application
Postgresql
63

Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Leveraging/Manipulating Configuration File Search Paths
    This attack loads a malicious resource into a program's standard path used to bootstrap and/or provide contextual information for a program like a path variable or classpath. J2EE applications and other component based applications that are built from multiple binaries can have very long list of dependencies to execute. If one of these libraries and/or references is controllable by the attacker then application controls can be circumvented by the attacker. A standard UNIX path looks similar to this If the attacker modifies the path variable to point to a locale that includes malicious resources then the user unwittingly can execute commands on the attackers' behalf: This is a form of usurping control of the program and the attack can be done on the classpath, database resources, or any other resources built from compound parts. At runtime detection and blocking of this attack is nearly impossible, because the configuration allows execution.

Nessus

NASL familyDatabases
NASL idPOSTGRESQL_20200514.NASL
descriptionThe version of PostgreSQL installed on the remote host is 9.5 prior to 9.5.22, 9.6 prior to 9.6.18, 10 prior to 10.13, 11 prior to 11.8, or 12 prior to 12.3. As such, it is potentially affected by a which allows a Windows installer the ability to run executables from uncontrolled directories, resulting in an arbitrary code execution vulenrability. (CVE-2020-10733). Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application
last seen2020-06-10
modified2020-06-03
plugin id137078
published2020-06-03
reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/137078
titlePostgreSQL 9.5.x < 9.5.22 / 9.6.x < 9.6.18 / 10.x < 10.13 / 11.x < 11.8 / 12.x < 12.3 Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability
code
#
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#
# Portions Copyright (C) 1996-2019, The PostgreSQL Global Development Group
# Portions Copyright (C) 1994, The Regents of the University of California
# Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its documentation for any purpose, without fee, and without a written agreement is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice and this paragraph and the following two paragraphs appear in all copies.
# IN NO EVENT SHALL THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BE LIABLE TO ANY PARTY FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE AND ITS DOCUMENTATION, EVEN IF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
# THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE SOFTWARE PROVIDED HEREUNDER IS ON AN "AS IS" BASIS, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA HAS NO OBLIGATIONS TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE, SUPPORT, UPDATES, ENHANCEMENTS, OR MODIFICATIONS.
#

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(137078);
  script_version("1.2");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/06/08");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2020-10733");

  script_name(english:"PostgreSQL 9.5.x < 9.5.22 / 9.6.x < 9.6.18 / 10.x < 10.13 / 11.x < 11.8 / 12.x < 12.3 Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The remote database server is affected by a vulnerability");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The version of PostgreSQL installed on the remote host is 9.5 prior to 9.5.22, 9.6 prior to 9.6.18, 10 prior to 10.13,
11 prior to 11.8, or 12 prior to 12.3. As such, it is potentially affected by a which allows a Windows installer 
the ability to run executables from uncontrolled directories, resulting in an arbitrary code execution vulenrability.
(CVE-2020-10733).  

Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version
number.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://www.postgresql.org/about/news/2038/");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"Upgrade to PostgreSQL 9.5.22 / 9.6.18 / 10.13 / 11.8 / 12.3 or later");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2020-10733");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2020/05/14");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2020/05/14");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2020/06/03");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:postgresql:postgresql");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Databases");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("postgresql_version.nbin");
  script_require_ports("Services/postgresql", 5432);

  exit(0);
}

include('vcf.inc');
include('vcf_extras.inc');
include('backport.inc');

port = get_service(svc:'postgresql', default:5432, exit_on_fail:TRUE);
kb_base = 'database/' + port + '/postgresql/';

kb_ver = kb_base + 'version';
get_kb_item_or_exit(kb_ver);

kb_backport = NULL;
source = get_kb_item_or_exit(kb_base + 'source');
get_backport_banner(banner:source);
if (backported) kb_backport = kb_base + 'backported';

app_info = vcf::get_app_info(app:'PostgreSQL', port:port, kb_ver:kb_ver, kb_backport:kb_backport, service:TRUE);

#  9.5.22 / 9.6.18 / 10.13 / 11.8 / 12.3
constraints = [
  { 'min_version' : '9.5', 'fixed_version' : '9.5.22' },
  { 'min_version' : '9.6', 'fixed_version' : '9.6.18' },
  { 'min_version' : '10', 'fixed_version' : '10.13' },
  { 'min_version' : '11', 'fixed_version' : '11.8' },
  { 'min_version' : '12', 'fixed_version' : '12.3' }
];

vcf::check_version_and_report(app_info:app_info, constraints:constraints, severity:SECURITY_WARNING);

References