CVE-2026-18408

PostgreSQL psql \unrestrict lets superuser of pg_dump origin server execute arbitrary code in psql client

State: Published
Severity: 8.8 High
Published: Aug 13, 2026
Updated: Aug 29, 2026
Reserved: Jul 30, 2026

Description

Untrusted data inclusion in pg_dump in PostgreSQL allows a malicious superuser of the origin server to inject arbitrary code for restore-time execution as the client operating system account running psql to restore the dump, via psql \restrict meta-command input expansion. The fix for CVE-2025-8714 introduced \restrict and \unrestrict to block this attack, but \unrestrict itself was sufficient for an attack. pg_dumpall is also affected. pg_restore is affected when used to generate a plain-format dump. Non-core use of \restrict would be affected, but we've not identified non-core use. Versions before PostgreSQL 18.6, 17.11, 16.15, 15.19, and 14.24 are affected.

Scores

CVSS	Score	Vector	Source
3.1	8.8 High	CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H	PostgreSQL

Weaknesses

CWE-829 Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere

Affected Products

Product	Versions
PostgreSQLn/a	18 to before 18.6Affected 17 to before 17.11Affected 16 to before 16.15Affected 15 to before 15.19Affected before 14.24Affected

References

https://www.postgresql.org/support/security/CVE-2026-18408/

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