High severity · published Aug 13, 2026
CVE-2026-18408
PostgreSQL psql \unrestrict lets superuser of pg_dump origin server execute arbitrary code in psql client
8.8
CVSS
0.4%
EPSS
No
On KEV
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 18.6, 17.11, 16.15, 15.19, and 14.24 are affected.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
None
User interaction
Required
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.4% · higher than 29% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
PO
PostgreSQL · PostgreSQL
18 before 18.6; 17 before 17.11; 16 before 16.15; 15 before 15.19; before 14.24 · source: vendor, NVD
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-18408
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-18408
Vendor Advisory
https://www.postgresql.org/support/security/CVE-2026-18408/
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