PostgreSQL SSL/GSS init causes denial of service, via uncontrolled recursion (CVE-2026-6479)
CVE-2026-6479 is a denial of service vulnerability in PostgreSQL caused by uncontrolled recursion during SSL and GSS negotiation. An attacker with access to a PostgreSQL AF_UNIX socket can exploit this to cause sustained denial of service. If SSL and GSS are disabled, the vulnerability can be exploited via a TCP socket. Multiple PostgreSQL versions prior to specific fixed releases are affected. Red Hat has issued security advisories and patches to address this issue.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The vulnerability CVE-2026-6479 in PostgreSQL involves uncontrolled recursion in the SSL and GSS negotiation process. This flaw allows an attacker who can connect to a PostgreSQL AF_UNIX socket to cause a sustained denial of service condition. When SSL and GSS are both disabled, the same denial of service can be achieved via a TCP socket connection. The affected PostgreSQL versions include all releases before 14.23, 15.18, 16.14, 17.10, and 18.4. Red Hat has released security updates for affected PostgreSQL packages in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 and 9 to fix this issue.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation results in a denial of service condition, causing the PostgreSQL server to become unresponsive due to uncontrolled recursion in SSL/GSS negotiation. This impacts availability but does not indicate data confidentiality or integrity compromise. The vulnerability requires the attacker to have socket access (AF_UNIX or TCP depending on configuration).
Mitigation Recommendations
A patch is available and should be applied promptly. Red Hat has released updated PostgreSQL packages for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 and 9 that fix this vulnerability. Users should follow the vendor's update instructions as detailed in the Red Hat advisories (RHSA-2026:52395 and RHSA-2026:52396) and the referenced article https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258. No additional mitigation steps are indicated by the vendor advisory.
PostgreSQL SSL/GSS init causes denial of service, via uncontrolled recursion (CVE-2026-6479)
Description
CVE-2026-6479 is a denial of service vulnerability in PostgreSQL caused by uncontrolled recursion during SSL and GSS negotiation. An attacker with access to a PostgreSQL AF_UNIX socket can exploit this to cause sustained denial of service. If SSL and GSS are disabled, the vulnerability can be exploited via a TCP socket. Multiple PostgreSQL versions prior to specific fixed releases are affected. Red Hat has issued security advisories and patches to address this issue.
Affected software
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The vulnerability CVE-2026-6479 in PostgreSQL involves uncontrolled recursion in the SSL and GSS negotiation process. This flaw allows an attacker who can connect to a PostgreSQL AF_UNIX socket to cause a sustained denial of service condition. When SSL and GSS are both disabled, the same denial of service can be achieved via a TCP socket connection. The affected PostgreSQL versions include all releases before 14.23, 15.18, 16.14, 17.10, and 18.4. Red Hat has released security updates for affected PostgreSQL packages in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 and 9 to fix this issue.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation results in a denial of service condition, causing the PostgreSQL server to become unresponsive due to uncontrolled recursion in SSL/GSS negotiation. This impacts availability but does not indicate data confidentiality or integrity compromise. The vulnerability requires the attacker to have socket access (AF_UNIX or TCP depending on configuration).
Mitigation Recommendations
A patch is available and should be applied promptly. Red Hat has released updated PostgreSQL packages for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 and 9 that fix this vulnerability. Users should follow the vendor's update instructions as detailed in the Red Hat advisories (RHSA-2026:52395 and RHSA-2026:52396) and the referenced article https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258. No additional mitigation steps are indicated by the vendor advisory.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Csaf Category
- csaf_security_advisory
- Csaf Version
- 2.0
- Publisher
- Red Hat Product Security
- Advisory Id
- RHSA-2026:52396
- Cve Count
- 1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 6a79f0efbf8831d539f63c05
Added to database: 08/10/2026, 15:40:31 UTC
Last enriched: 09/08/2026, 15:13:32 UTC
Last updated: 09/23/2026, 13:47:47 UTC
Views: 65
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