# CVE-2017-7546: Auth bypass in postgresql

> Remote attackers can bypass authentication to access database accounts with empty passwords, requiring specific configuration settings.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 16 Aug 2017
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2017-7546, CLEANSTART-2026-IH79519, GHSA-cj69-7h9j-r3j5, RHSA-2017:2860, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-7546

## What is CVE-2017-7546?

CVE-2017-7546 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 16 Aug 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

PostgreSQL versions before 9.2.22, 9.3.18, 9.4.13, 9.5.8 and 9.6.4 are vulnerable to incorrect authentication flaw allowing remote attackers to gain access to database accounts with an empty password.

Weakness: CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-7546?

It affects 2 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `postgresql` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-contrib` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-docs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-libs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-plperl` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-plpython` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-pltcl` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-server` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-test` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-contrib` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-docs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-libs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-plperl` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-plpython` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-pltcl` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-server` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-test` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-contrib` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-docs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-libs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-plperl` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-plpython` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-pltcl` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-server` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-test` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-contrib` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-docs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-libs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |
| `postgresql-plperl` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation | All versions | 0:8.4.20-8.el6_9 |

Products: Debian Debian Linux, Postgresql Postgresql.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-7546?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2017-7546 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-7546 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
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- [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-7546 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-7546 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 16 Aug 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-7546 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Debian Debian Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-7546/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-7546/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-7546
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-7546
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-7546

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-7546/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.