CVE-2026-6478

CVE-2026-6478 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Postgresql with a CVSS 3.x 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-385.

Key facts

Description

Covert timing channel in comparison of MD5-hashed password in PostgreSQL authentication allows an attacker to recover user credentials sufficient to authenticate. This does not affect scram-sha-256 passwords, the default in all supported releases. However, current databases may have MD5-hashed passwords originating in upgrades from PostgreSQL 13 or earlier. Versions before PostgreSQL 18.4, 17.10, 16.14, 15.18, and 14.23 are affected.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-6478?
Covert timing channel in comparison of MD5-hashed password in PostgreSQL authentication allows an attacker to recover user credentials sufficient to authenticate. This does not affect scram-sha-256 passwords, the default in all supported releases. However, current databases may have MD5-hashed passwords originating in upgrades from PostgreSQL 13 or earlier. Versions before PostgreSQL 18.4, 17.10, 16.14, 15.18, and 14.23 are affected.
How severe is CVE-2026-6478?
CVE-2026-6478 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is low, integrity low, and availability none.
Is CVE-2026-6478 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (42nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2026-6478?
CVE-2026-6478 affects Postgresql. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2026-6478?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
Does CVE-2026-6478 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2026-6478 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2026-30289.
When was CVE-2026-6478 published?
CVE-2026-6478 was published on 2026-05-14 and last updated on 2026-07-06.

References

Affected products (1)

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