CVE-2012-3488

CVE-2012-3488 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Postgresql with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.9. 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 4.9)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 3% (87th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-264
• Affected product: Postgresql
• Published: 2012-10-03
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The libxslt support in contrib/xml2 in PostgreSQL 8.3 before 8.3.20, 8.4 before 8.4.13, 9.0 before 9.0.9, and 9.1 before 9.1.5 does not properly restrict access to files and URLs, which allows remote authenticated users to modify data, obtain sensitive information, or trigger outbound traffic to arbitrary external hosts by leveraging (1) stylesheet commands that are permitted by the libxslt security options or (2) an xslt_process feature, related to an XML External Entity (aka XXE) issue.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2012-3488?

The libxslt support in contrib/xml2 in PostgreSQL 8.3 before 8.3.20, 8.4 before 8.4.13, 9.0 before 9.0.9, and 9.1 before 9.1.5 does not properly restrict access to files and URLs, which allows remote authenticated users to modify data, obtain sensitive information, or trigger outbound traffic to arbitrary external hosts by leveraging (1) stylesheet commands that are permitted by the libxslt security options or (2) an xslt_process feature, related to an XML External Entity (aka XXE) issue.

How severe is CVE-2012-3488?

CVE-2012-3488 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.9, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2012-3488 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (87th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2012-3488?

CVE-2012-3488 primarily affects Postgresql. In total, 47 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2012-3488?

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

When was CVE-2012-3488 published?

CVE-2012-3488 was published on 2012-10-03 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://kb.juniper.net/InfoCenter/index?page=content&id=JSA10705
• http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2013/Mar/msg00002.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-09/msg00102.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-10/msg00013.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2012-10/msg00024.html
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-1263.html
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-1264.html
• http://secunia.com/advisories/50635
• http://secunia.com/advisories/50636
• http://secunia.com/advisories/50718
• http://secunia.com/advisories/50859
• http://secunia.com/advisories/50946
• http://www.debian.org/security/2012/dsa-2534
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2012:139
• http://www.postgresql.org/about/news/1407/
• http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.3/static/release-8-3-20.html
• http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.4/static/release-8-4-13.html
• http://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.0/static/release-9-0-9.html
• http://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.1/static/release-9-1-5.html
• http://www.postgresql.org/support/security/
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/55072
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1542-1
• https://blogs.oracle.com/sunsecurity/entry/multiple_vulnerabilities_in_postgresql2
• https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=849172

Affected products (47)

• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:9.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:9.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:9.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:9.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:9.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.4.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.4.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.4.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.4.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.4.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.4.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.4.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.4.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.4.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.4.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.3.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.3.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.3.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.3.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.3.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.3.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.3.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.3.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.3.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.3.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.3.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.3.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.3.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.3.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.3.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.3.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:8.3.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql:9.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Postgresql

• CVE-2013-1903 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): PostgreSQL, possibly 9.2.x before 9.2.4, 9.1.x before 9.1.9, 9.0.x before 9.0.13, 8.4.x before 8.4.17, and 8.3.x before…
• CVE-2013-1902 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): PostgreSQL, 9.2.x before 9.2.4, 9.1.x before 9.1.9, 9.0.x before 9.0.13, 8.4.x before 8.4.17, and 8.3.x before 8.3.23…
• CVE-2007-3279 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): PostgreSQL 8.1 and probably later versions, when the PL/pgSQL (plpgsql) language has been created, grants certain…
• CVE-2002-1399 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Unknown vulnerability in cash_out and possibly other functions in PostgreSQL 7.2.1 and earlier, and possibly later…
• CVE-2015-0244 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): PostgreSQL before 9.0.19, 9.1.x before 9.1.15, 9.2.x before 9.2.10, 9.3.x before 9.3.6, and 9.4.x before 9.4.1 does not…
• CVE-2015-3166 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): The snprintf implementation in PostgreSQL before 9.0.20, 9.1.x before 9.1.16, 9.2.x before 9.2.11, 9.3.x before 9.3.7,…

All CVEs affecting Postgresql →

Other CWE-264 (Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls) vulnerabilities

• CVE-2016-8363 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): An issue was discovered in Moxa OnCell OnCellG3470A-LTE, AWK-1131A/3131A/4131A Series, AWK-3191 Series, AWK-5232/6232…
• CVE-2016-7457 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): VMware vRealize Operations (aka vROps) 6.x before 6.4.0 allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges, or halt…
• CVE-2015-7425 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The Data Protection component in the VMware vSphere GUI in IBM Tivoli Storage Manager for Virtual Environments: Data…
• CVE-2015-8267 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The PasswordReset.Controllers.ResetController.ChangePasswordIndex method in PasswordReset.dll in Dovestones AD Self…
• CVE-2015-7919 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): SearchBlox 8.3 before 8.3.1 allows remote attackers to write to the config file, and consequently cause a denial of…
• CVE-2015-7071 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The File Bookmark component in Apple OS X before 10.11.2 allows attackers to bypass a sandbox protection mechanism for…

Browse all CWE-264 (Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls) vulnerabilities →