CVE-2025-12967 is a vulnerability identified in the AWS Wrappers for Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL, specifically related to unsafe reflection (CWE-470). Unsafe reflection occurs when an application uses externally-controlled input to select classes or code to execute, which can lead to arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation. In this case, a low-privilege authenticated user can craft a function that exploits this unsafe reflection mechanism to execute with the permissions of other Amazon RDS users, including the highly privileged rds_superuser role. This escalation allows the attacker to perform actions normally restricted to superusers, such as modifying database configurations, accessing sensitive data, or disrupting database operations. The vulnerability affects multiple AWS wrapper libraries: AWS JDBC Wrapper, AWS Go Wrapper, AWS NodeJS Wrapper, AWS Python Wrapper, and AWS PGSQL ODBC driver. The CVSS 4.0 score is 8.6 (high), reflecting the network attack vector, low attack complexity, no required privileges beyond low-level authentication, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Exploitation requires user interaction, such as invoking the crafted function. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk to any organization using these wrappers with Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL. AWS has released patched versions to address this issue, and customers are strongly advised to upgrade to these versions promptly to prevent exploitation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability presents a serious risk to the security of their Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL databases. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized privilege escalation to the rds_superuser role, granting attackers full control over the database instance. This can result in data breaches, unauthorized data modification or deletion, disruption of database services, and potential lateral movement within the cloud environment. Given the widespread adoption of AWS cloud services in Europe, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, and government, the impact could be severe, affecting sensitive personal data protected under GDPR and critical business operations. The ability to escalate privileges from a low-privilege authenticated user means that insider threats or compromised user credentials could be leveraged to cause significant damage. Additionally, the high integrity and availability impacts could lead to operational downtime and loss of trust. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the risk remains high due to the ease of exploitation and the critical nature of the affected permissions.

European organizations should immediately verify if they use any of the affected AWS wrappers with Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL and prioritize upgrading to the patched versions: AWS JDBC Wrapper v2.6.5, AWS Go Wrapper 2025-10-17, AWS NodeJS Wrapper v2.0.1, AWS Python Wrapper v1.4.0, and AWS PGSQL ODBC driver v1.0.1. Beyond patching, organizations should implement strict access controls to limit the number of users with authenticated access to the database and monitor for unusual function creation or execution activities. Employing database activity monitoring and anomaly detection can help identify exploitation attempts early. Additionally, enforcing the principle of least privilege on database users and roles reduces the attack surface. Regularly auditing database permissions and reviewing logs for suspicious behavior is critical. Organizations should also consider network segmentation and use of AWS security features such as IAM policies, security groups, and AWS CloudTrail to track and restrict access. Finally, educating developers and DBAs about the risks of unsafe reflection and secure coding practices can prevent similar vulnerabilities in custom code or wrappers.