CVE-2025-8715 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting multiple recent versions of PostgreSQL, specifically versions prior to 17.6, 16.10, 15.14, 14.19, and 13.22, but not versions before 11.20. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of CRLF (Carriage Return Line Feed) sequences in the pg_dump utility and related tools such as pg_dumpall, pg_restore, and pg_upgrade. This flaw allows a user with access to the origin PostgreSQL server to craft object names containing malicious psql meta-commands that include newline characters. When these specially crafted dumps are restored using psql, the injected commands execute on the client operating system under the account running the restore process. This can lead to arbitrary code execution on the client machine performing the restore. Additionally, if the attacker has superuser privileges on the restore target server, the vulnerability can be exploited to perform SQL injection attacks, potentially compromising the database integrity and confidentiality. The issue is a regression, as a similar vulnerability (CVE-2012-0868) was previously fixed but reintroduced in version 11.20. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.8 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with no privileges required to exploit but requiring user interaction (restoring the dump). The vulnerability affects critical PostgreSQL tools used for backup, restore, and upgrade operations, making it a significant threat vector especially in environments where database dumps are transferred and restored across different systems or administrators. No known exploits in the wild have been reported yet, but the potential for damage is substantial given the widespread use of PostgreSQL in enterprise and cloud environments.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a serious risk to data security and operational continuity. PostgreSQL is widely used across various sectors including finance, healthcare, government, and technology in Europe. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution on client systems during database restore operations, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disrupt services. The SQL injection vector on the restore target server could compromise database integrity and confidentiality, impacting compliance with stringent European data protection regulations such as GDPR. Organizations relying on automated backup and restore workflows or those with distributed database environments are particularly vulnerable. The risk extends to cloud-hosted PostgreSQL instances and managed services if dump files are handled insecurely. The vulnerability could also facilitate lateral movement within networks if attackers gain footholds via compromised restore operations. Given the critical role of PostgreSQL in many European critical infrastructure and business applications, exploitation could have cascading effects on business operations and data privacy.

European organizations should immediately assess their PostgreSQL deployments and upgrade affected versions to the fixed releases: 17.6, 16.10, 15.14, 14.19, or 13.22 as applicable. Until patches are applied, organizations should enforce strict controls on who can perform dump and restore operations, limiting these privileges to trusted administrators only. Validate and sanitize all database object names before dumping to detect and reject suspicious characters or sequences that could be used for injection. Avoid restoring dumps from untrusted or unknown sources. Implement monitoring and alerting on unusual psql restore activities and command executions on client systems. Use role-based access control to restrict superuser privileges on restore target servers to minimize SQL injection risks. Consider isolating restore operations in sandboxed or containerized environments to limit potential damage from code execution. Regularly audit backup and restore procedures and educate staff on the risks associated with handling dump files. Finally, maintain an inventory of PostgreSQL versions in use and subscribe to vendor security advisories for timely updates.