CVE-2025-31480
📋 TL;DR
This is a privilege escalation vulnerability in the aiven-extras PostgreSQL extension that allows attackers to gain superuser privileges within PostgreSQL databases. It affects PostgreSQL databases using the vulnerable aiven-extras package versions. The vulnerability exists due to the format function not being schema-prefixed, enabling unauthorized privilege elevation.
💻 Affected Systems
- aiven-extras PostgreSQL extension
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers gain full superuser control over PostgreSQL databases, allowing them to read/modify/delete all data, create/drop databases and users, execute arbitrary code, and potentially compromise the underlying server.
Likely Case
Attackers with database access escalate privileges to superuser, enabling data exfiltration, data manipulation, and persistence within the database environment.
If Mitigated
With proper network segmentation, limited database user privileges, and monitoring, impact is limited to the specific database instance where exploitation occurs.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires existing database access. The vulnerability is in a specific function call that can be triggered by users with execute permissions on the vulnerable functions.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.1.16
Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/aiven/aiven-extras/security/advisories/GHSA-33xh-jqgf-6627
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Install aiven-extras version 1.1.16. 2. For each database where aiven_extras is installed, connect and run: ALTER EXTENSION aiven_extras UPDATE TO '1.1.16'; 3. Verify the update completed successfully in each database.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Remove aiven_extras extension
allCompletely remove the vulnerable extension from databases if not required
DROP EXTENSION aiven_extras;
Revoke execute permissions
allRevoke execute permissions on vulnerable functions from non-superuser accounts
REVOKE EXECUTE ON FUNCTION format(text, text[]) FROM public;
REVOKE EXECUTE ON FUNCTION format(text, text[]) FROM [specific_users];
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict principle of least privilege for all database users
- Enable comprehensive logging of database privilege escalation attempts and monitor logs
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Connect to each PostgreSQL database and run: SELECT * FROM pg_available_extensions WHERE name = 'aiven_extras' AND installed_version < '1.1.16';Check Version:
SELECT * FROM pg_extension WHERE extname = 'aiven_extras';Verify Fix Applied:
Connect to each database and run: SELECT * FROM pg_extension WHERE extname = 'aiven_extras' AND extversion = '1.1.16';📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Database logs showing privilege escalation attempts
- Logs showing execution of format function without schema prefix
- Unexpected superuser privilege grants
Network Indicators:
- Unusual database connections followed by privilege escalation commands
SIEM Query:
source="postgresql" AND ("ALTER EXTENSION" OR "format" OR "superuser")