CVE-2009-3230

CVE-2009-3230 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Postgresql with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-264.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 6.5)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 3% (85th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-264
• Affected product: Postgresql
• Published: 2009-09-17
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The core server component in PostgreSQL 8.4 before 8.4.1, 8.3 before 8.3.8, 8.2 before 8.2.14, 8.1 before 8.1.18, 8.0 before 8.0.22, and 7.4 before 7.4.26 does not use the appropriate privileges for the (1) RESET ROLE and (2) RESET SESSION AUTHORIZATION operations, which allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges. NOTE: this is due to an incomplete fix for CVE-2007-6600.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-3230?

The core server component in PostgreSQL 8.4 before 8.4.1, 8.3 before 8.3.8, 8.2 before 8.2.14, 8.1 before 8.1.18, 8.0 before 8.0.22, and 7.4 before 7.4.26 does not use the appropriate privileges for the (1) RESET ROLE and (2) RESET SESSION AUTHORIZATION operations, which allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges. NOTE: this is due to an incomplete fix for CVE-2007-6600.

How severe is CVE-2009-3230?

CVE-2009-3230 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.5, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2009-3230 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (85th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2009-3230?

CVE-2009-3230 primarily affects Postgresql. In total, 87 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2009-3230?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2009-3230 published?

CVE-2009-3230 was published on 2009-09-17 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://archives.postgresql.org/pgsql-www/2009-09/msg00024.php
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-10/msg00001.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-10/msg00004.html
• http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=134124585221119&w=2
• http://secunia.com/advisories/36660
• http://secunia.com/advisories/36695
• http://secunia.com/advisories/36727
• http://secunia.com/advisories/36800
• http://secunia.com/advisories/36837
• http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-66-270408-1
• http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2010-0012
• http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.3/static/release-8-3-8.html
• http://www.postgresql.org/support/security.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/509917/100/0/threaded
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/36314
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-834-1
• http://www.us.debian.org/security/2009/dsa-1900
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/2602
• https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=522085
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10166
• https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2009-September/msg00305.html
• https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2009-September/msg00307.html

Affected products (87)

• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.22:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.23:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.24:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:7.4.25:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.0.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.0.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.0.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.0.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.0.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.0.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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