CVE-2020-1720: A flaw was found in PostgreSQL's "ALTER ...
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Monitor (action score 26/100)
- The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 1.1% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 67.9% of all records.
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. A low-privileged account is enough. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- Fixed version: postgres-decoderbufs (AlmaLinux:8) 0.10.0-2.module_el8.6.0+2760+1746ec94, 0.10.0-2.module_el8.6.0+2758+4f4474df; postgresql (Alpine:v3.10) 11.7-r0; postgresql (Alpine:v3.11) 12.2-r0.
- Severity is disputed: the assigning authority (CNA) scores it 3.1, NVD 6.5.
- Mentioned 2 times in Turkish national cyber security advisories (siberguvenlik.gov.tr).
Low priority for now. Upgrade to postgres-decoderbufs (AlmaLinux:8) 0.10.0-2.module_el8.6.0+2760+1746ec94, 0.10.0-2.module_el8.6.0+2758+4f4474df; postgresql (Alpine:v3.10) 11.7-r0; postgresql (Alpine:v3.11) 12.2-r0 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS
A flaw was found in PostgreSQL's "ALTER ... DEPENDS ON EXTENSION", where sub-commands did not perform authorization checks. An authenticated attacker could use this flaw in certain configurations to perform drop objects such as function, triggers, et al., leading to database corruption. This issue affects PostgreSQL versions before 12.2, before 11.7, before 10.12 and before 9.6.17.
- BDU:2021-00082
- ALSA-2020:5620
- DLA-2105-1
- DSA-4622-1
- DSA-4623-1
- openSUSE-SU-2020:0331-1
- openSUSE-SU-2020:1227-1
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11184-1
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11185-1
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11186-1
- RHBA-2020:2396
- RHSA-2020:0980
- RHSA-2020:3669
- RHSA-2020:4295
- RHSA-2020:5112
- RHSA-2020:5619
- RHSA-2020:5620
- RHSA-2020:5661
- RHSA-2020:5664
- RHSA-2021:0163
- Published
- Mar 17, 2020
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 1.1% · 67th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-285
Report tools
Action score
26
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 26 / 40 · 6.5 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 0 / 30 · 1.1%
CNA vs NVD score
- NVD
- 6.5
- CNA · redhat
- 3.1
- 3.4 point gap
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.
Get told when this record changes
- Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
- No public exploit code on record
- A fix has been released
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Noroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| postgresql | postgresql | cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql |
| redhat | decision manager | cpe:2.3:a:redhat:decision_manager |
| redhat | software collections | cpe:2.3:a:redhat:software_collections |
| redhat | enterprise linux | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux |
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Run a port scanAffected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- postgresql postgresql9.6 and later · before 9.6.17
- postgresql postgresql10.0 and later · before 10.12
- postgresql postgresql11.0 and later · before 11.7
- postgresql postgresql12.0 and later · before 12.2
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (redhat). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
Red Hat postgresql
- 12.2, 11.7, 10.12, 9.6.17affected
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux:8 | postgres-decoderbufs | before 0.10.0-2.module_el8.6.0+2760+1746ec94 | 0.10.0-2.module_el8.6.0+2760+1746ec94 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | postgres-decoderbufs | before 0.10.0-2.module_el8.6.0+2758+4f4474df | 0.10.0-2.module_el8.6.0+2758+4f4474df |
| Alpine:v3.10 | postgresql | from 9.6 · before 11.7-r0 | 11.7-r0 |
| Alpine:v3.11 | postgresql | from 9.6 · before 12.2-r0 | 12.2-r0 |
| Alpine:v3.15 | postgresql12 | before 12.2-r0 | 12.2-r0 |
| Alpine:v3.15 | postgresql14 | before 12.2-r0 | 12.2-r0 |
| Alpine:v3.17 | postgresql15 | before 12.2-r0 | 12.2-r0 |
| Alpine:v3.8 | postgresql | from 9.6 · before 10.12-r0 | 10.12-r0 |
| Debian:10 | postgresql-11 | before 11.7-0+deb10u1 | 11.7-0+deb10u1 |
| Debian:8 | postgresql-9.4 | before 9.4.26-0+deb8u1 | 9.4.26-0+deb8u1 |
| Debian:9 | postgresql-9.6 | before 9.6.17-0+deb9u1 | 9.6.17-0+deb9u1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | postgresql | before 12.0.1-lp151.6.9.1 | 12.0.1-lp151.6.9.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | postgresql10 | before 10.13-lp151.2.14.1 | 10.13-lp151.2.14.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | postgresql10 | before 10.12-lp151.2.9.1 | 10.12-lp151.2.9.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | postgresql12 | before 12.3-lp151.2.1 | 12.3-lp151.2.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | postgresql96 | before 9.6.19-lp151.3.3.1 | 9.6.19-lp151.3.3.1 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | postgresql10 | before 10.18-1.3 | 10.18-1.3 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | postgresql11 | before 11.13-1.3 | 11.13-1.3 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | postgresql12 | before 12.8-1.3 | 12.8-1.3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | pgaudit | before 0:1.4.0-4.module+el8.3.0+9042+664538f4 | 0:1.4.0-4.module+el8.3.0+9042+664538f4 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | pgaudit-debuginfo | before 0:1.4.0-4.module+el8.3.0+9042+664538f4 | 0:1.4.0-4.module+el8.3.0+9042+664538f4 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | pgaudit-debugsource | before 0:1.4.0-4.module+el8.3.0+9042+664538f4 | 0:1.4.0-4.module+el8.3.0+9042+664538f4 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | postgres-decoderbufs | before 0:0.10.0-2.module+el8.3.0+9042+664538f4 | 0:0.10.0-2.module+el8.3.0+9042+664538f4 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | postgres-decoderbufs-debuginfo | before 0:0.10.0-2.module+el8.3.0+9042+664538f4 | 0:0.10.0-2.module+el8.3.0+9042+664538f4 |
+96
Same product
postgresql: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2017-7546PostgreSQL versions before 9.2.22, 9.3.18, 9.4.13, 9.5.8 and 9.6.4 are vulnerable to incorrect authentication flaw allowing remote attackers57Plan
- CVE-2019-9193In PostgreSQL 9.3 through 11.2, the "COPY TO/FROM PROGRAM" function allows superusers and users in the 'pg_execute_server_program' group to 55Plan
- CVE-2020-25695A flaw was found in PostgreSQL versions before 13.1, before 12.5, before 11.10, before 10.15, before 9.6.20 and before 9.5.24.49Plan
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2015-0243Jan 27, 2020 · Multiple buffer overflows in contrib/pgcrypto in 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, and37Monitor
- ← EarlierCVE-2015-0244Jan 27, 2020 · 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 properly handle erro40Plan
- Later →CVE-2020-14349Aug 24, 2020 · It was found that PostgreSQL versions before 12.4, before 11.9 and before 10.14 did not properly sanitize the search_path during logical rep29Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| almalinux:postgres-decoderbufs | 0.10.0-2.module_el8.6.0+2760+1746ec94 · AlmaLinux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| alpine:postgresql | 11.7-r0 · Alpine:v3.10 | Package registry (OSV) |
| alpine:postgresql12 | 12.2-r0 · Alpine:v3.15 | Package registry (OSV) |
| alpine:postgresql14 | 12.2-r0 · Alpine:v3.15 | Package registry (OSV) |
| alpine:postgresql15 | 12.2-r0 · Alpine:v3.17 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:postgresql-11 | 11.7-0+deb10u1 · Debian:10 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:postgresql-9.4 | 9.4.26-0+deb8u1 · Debian:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:postgresql-9.6 | 9.6.17-0+deb9u1 · Debian:9 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:postgresql | 12.0.1-lp151.6.9.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:postgresql10 | 10.12-lp151.2.9.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:postgresql11 | 11.13-1.3 · openSUSE:Tumbleweed | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:postgresql12 | 12.3-lp151.2.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:postgresql96 | 9.6.19-lp151.3.3.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ovirt-engine | 0:4.3.10.3-0.2.el7 · Red Hat:rhev_manager:4.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ovirt-engine-backend | 0:4.3.10.3-0.2.el7 · Red Hat:rhev_manager:4.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ovirt-engine-dbscripts | 0:4.3.10.3-0.2.el7 · Red Hat:rhev_manager:4.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ovirt-engine-extensions-api-impl | 0:4.3.10.3-0.2.el7 · Red Hat:rhev_manager:4.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ovirt-engine-extensions-api-impl-javadoc | 0:4.3.10.3-0.2.el7 · Red Hat:rhev_manager:4.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ovirt-engine-health-check-bundler | 0:4.3.10.3-0.2.el7 · Red Hat:rhev_manager:4.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ovirt-engine-restapi | 0:4.3.10.3-0.2.el7 · Red Hat:rhev_manager:4.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ovirt-engine-setup | 0:4.3.10.3-0.2.el7 · Red Hat:rhev_manager:4.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ovirt-engine-setup-base | 0:4.3.10.3-0.2.el7 · Red Hat:rhev_manager:4.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ovirt-engine-setup-plugin-cinderlib | 0:4.3.10.3-0.2.el7 · Red Hat:rhev_manager:4.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ovirt-engine-setup-plugin-ovirt-engine | 0:4.3.10.3-0.2.el7 · Red Hat:rhev_manager:4.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:ovirt-engine-setup-plugin-ovirt-engine-common | 0:4.3.10.3-0.2.el7 · Red Hat:rhev_manager:4.3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:pgaudit | 0:1.4.0-4.module+el8.4.0+545+ca56da2e · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| rocky linux:postgres-decoderbufs | 0:0.10.0-2.module+el8.5.0+684+c3892ef9 · Rocky Linux:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:postgresql | 12-8.11.3 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:postgresql10 | 10.12-8.13.9 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:postgresql10-libs | 10.12-1.18.1 · SUSE:HPE Helion OpenStack 8 | Package registry (OSV) |
+5
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
No history yet (it accumulates with the daily EPSS job).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
National notice (Türkiye Cybersecurity Directorate / USOM)
Official security notices citing this record; remediation advice is on the agency's page.
- TR-20-620 · Aug 18, 2020(Postgresql Sunucu Güvenlik Güncellemesi)
- TR-20-094 · Feb 18, 2020(Postgresql Sunucu Güvenlik Güncellemesi)
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- A low-privileged account is enough.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- none
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- none
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- None
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- None
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-285 · Improper AuthorizationCVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLsCAPEC-1likelihood: High · High
- Cross Zone ScriptingCAPEC-104likelihood: Medium · High
- Directory IndexingCAPEC-127likelihood: High · Medium
- Subverting Environment Variable ValuesCAPEC-13likelihood: High · Very High
- Using Malicious FilesCAPEC-17likelihood: High · Very High
- Manipulating Opaque Client-based Data TokensCAPEC-39likelihood: High · Medium
- Bypassing ATA Password SecurityCAPEC-402
- Buffer Overflow via Symbolic LinksCAPEC-45likelihood: High · High
ATT&CK techniques
- Data from Local SystemT1005
- Query RegistryT1012
- File and Directory DiscoveryT1083
- Access Token Manipulation:Token Impersonation/TheftT1134.001
- Use Alternate Authentication Material:Web Session CookieT1550.004
- Unsecured Credentials: Credentials in RegistryT1552.002
- Impair Defenses:Impair Command History LoggingT1562.003
- Data Manipulation: Transmitted Data ManipulationT1565.002
- Hijack Execution Flow: Executable Installer File Permissions WeaknessT1574.005
- Hijack Execution Flow:Dynamic Linker HijackingT1574.006
- Hijack Execution Flow:Path Interception by PATH Environment VariableT1574.007
- Hijack Execution Flow: ServicesFile Permissions WeaknessT1574.010
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
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References
Show all references (2 more)Show less
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.