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 18.5, 17.11, 16.15, 15.19, and 14.24 are affected.

Project Subscriptions

Vendors Products
Postgresql Subscribe
Postgresql Subscribe
Advisories

No advisories yet.

Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.


Workaround

use "pg_restore --dbname" instead of restore methods that involve "psql"

History

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Postgresql
Postgresql postgresql
Vendors & Products Postgresql
Postgresql postgresql

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
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 18.5, 17.11, 16.15, 15.19, and 14.24 are affected.
Title PostgreSQL psql \unrestrict lets superuser of pg_dump origin server execute arbitrary code in psql client
Weaknesses CWE-829
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}


Projects

Sign in to view the affected projects.

cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: PostgreSQL

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-13T15:39:17.899Z

Reserved: 2026-07-30T16:28:38.730Z

Link: CVE-2026-18408

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-08-13T15:39:12.757Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-13T13:17:48.127

Modified: 2026-08-13T16:17:58.420

Link: CVE-2026-18408

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-13T15:00:04Z

Weaknesses