CVE-2025-12762 is a Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability identified in pgAdmin 4, a popular open-source management tool for PostgreSQL databases. The flaw exists in versions up to 9.9 when pgAdmin is operated in server mode and processes database restores from PLAIN-format dump files. During such restore operations, an attacker with limited privileges can craft malicious dump files that inject arbitrary commands executed on the underlying server hosting pgAdmin. This occurs because the restore process does not sufficiently sanitize or validate input commands embedded within the dump file, allowing command injection. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1, reflecting its critical nature with network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and scope change (S:C). The impact includes high confidentiality loss, partial integrity compromise, and partial availability degradation. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability poses a severe risk to database administrators and organizations relying on pgAdmin 4 for PostgreSQL management. Attackers exploiting this flaw could gain unauthorized control over the database server, manipulate or exfiltrate sensitive data, and potentially pivot to other internal systems. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure handling of database restore operations and input validation in management tools.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-12762 is significant due to the widespread use of PostgreSQL and pgAdmin 4 in enterprise, government, and critical infrastructure sectors. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized command execution on database servers, resulting in data breaches, data manipulation, or service disruption. This threatens the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive data and critical applications. Organizations handling personal data under GDPR face additional regulatory and reputational risks if data is compromised. The ability to execute arbitrary commands also raises the risk of lateral movement within networks, potentially affecting broader IT infrastructure. Given the critical role of databases in business operations, exploitation could cause operational downtime and financial losses. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for sectors such as finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and public administration, where database security is paramount.

To mitigate CVE-2025-12762, organizations should immediately upgrade pgAdmin 4 to a patched version once available from the vendor. Until patches are released, restrict restore operations to highly trusted and authenticated users only. Implement strict access controls and network segmentation to isolate pgAdmin servers from general user networks. Employ application whitelisting and monitoring to detect unusual command execution or process spawning on database servers. Validate and sanitize all database dump files before performing restores, ideally using automated scanning tools to detect malicious payloads. Consider disabling server mode in pgAdmin if not required or using alternative management tools with better security controls. Regularly audit database and server logs for signs of exploitation attempts. Additionally, enforce the principle of least privilege for database and system accounts to limit potential damage from successful exploits.