Urgent: Critical RCE Vulnerability in pgAdmin (CVE-2025-12762)

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Overview

A critical Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-12762, has been discovered in pgAdmin versions up to 9.9. This vulnerability poses a significant threat as it allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the server hosting pgAdmin when running in server mode and performing restores from PLAIN-format dump files. Successfully exploiting this flaw can lead to complete compromise of the database management system and the data it manages.

Published: 2025-11-13T13:15:44.620

Technical Details

The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of input during the restore process from PLAIN-format dump files. Attackers can inject malicious commands within the dump file that are then executed by the pgAdmin server during the restore operation. This is particularly dangerous because the restore process often runs with elevated privileges, granting the attacker significant control over the system.

Specifically, the vulnerability is related to how pgAdmin handles specific parameters or commands within the PLAIN-format dump file during a restore operation. By crafting a malicious dump file, an attacker can inject shell commands that will be executed by the pgAdmin server process. This could include installing malware, stealing sensitive data, or disrupting the operation of the database server.

CVSS Analysis

The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) has assigned this vulnerability a score of 9.1, classifying it as CRITICAL severity. This high score reflects the potential for widespread impact and ease of exploitation.

  • Severity: CRITICAL
  • CVSS Score: 9.1

Possible Impact

The successful exploitation of CVE-2025-12762 can have devastating consequences, including:

  • Complete System Compromise: Attackers can gain full control of the server hosting pgAdmin.
  • Data Breach: Sensitive database information can be stolen or manipulated.
  • Denial of Service: The database server can be rendered unavailable, disrupting critical business operations.
  • Lateral Movement: Attackers can use the compromised server to gain access to other systems within the network.

Mitigation or Patch Steps

To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2025-12762, the following steps are strongly recommended:

  1. Upgrade pgAdmin: Immediately upgrade to the latest version of pgAdmin that includes a fix for this vulnerability. Check the official pgAdmin website ( https://www.pgadmin.org/ ) for the latest releases and security advisories. Specifically look for versions greater than 9.9.
  2. Restrict Access: Limit access to the pgAdmin server to only authorized users and IP addresses.
  3. Monitor Activity: Implement robust monitoring and logging to detect suspicious activity on the pgAdmin server.
  4. Input Validation: While upgrading is the primary solution, consider implementing stricter input validation measures for PLAIN-format dump files if feasible, although this should not be considered a replacement for patching.
  5. Disable Server Mode (if possible): If server mode is not required, consider running pgAdmin in desktop mode as a temporary workaround. This will limit the attack surface.

Important: Prioritize upgrading pgAdmin immediately as this is the most effective way to address the vulnerability.

References

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