CVE-2023-39417 Postgresql: extension script @substitutions@ within quoting allow sql injection

High 7.5 Published 11 Aug 2023 Updated 30 Sep 2026

Attackers with CREATE privileges can execute arbitrary code as superuser via SQL injection in vulnerable extension scripts using specific quoting constructs.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: Any signed-in user
Attackable: Over the internet
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: Available

What is CVE-2023-39417?

CVE-2023-39417 is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 11 Aug 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

IN THE EXTENSION SCRIPT, a SQL Injection vulnerability was found in PostgreSQL if it uses @extowner@, @extschema@, or @extschema:...@ inside a quoting construct (dollar quoting, '', or ""). If an administrator has installed files of a vulnerable, trusted, non-bundled extension, an attacker with database-level CREATE privilege can execute arbitrary code as the bootstrap superuser.

Weakness: CWE-89

Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-39417?

1 open source package ship an affected version, including postgresql. It affects 4 products.

Package	Affected	Fixed in
`postgresql` Bitnami	From `11.0.0`	`11.21.0, 12.16.0, 13.12.0, 14.9.0, 15.4.0`

Linux distribution packages (32)

`postgresql12` SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-LTSS	All versions	`12.16-150100.3.44.1`
`postgresql14` SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP4	All versions	`14.9-150200.5.29.1`
`postgresql13` SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Legacy 15 SP4	All versions	`13.12-150200.5.43.1`
`postgresql14` SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Legacy 15 SP5	All versions	`14.9-150200.5.29.1`
`postgresql14` SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Package Hub 15 SP4	All versions	`14.9-150200.5.29.1`
`postgresql14` SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Package Hub 15 SP5	All versions	`14.9-150200.5.29.1`
`postgresql14` SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Server Applications 15 SP4	All versions	`14.9-150200.5.29.1`
`postgresql12` SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5	All versions	`12.16-3.42.1`
`postgresql13` SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5	All versions	`13.12-3.36.1`
`postgresql14` SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5	All versions	`14.9-3.26.1`
`postgresql12` SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS	All versions	`12.16-150100.3.44.1`
`postgresql12` SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP5	All versions	`12.16-3.42.1`
`postgresql13` SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP5	All versions	`13.12-3.36.1`
`postgresql14` SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP5	All versions	`14.9-3.26.1`
`postgresql12` SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP1	All versions	`12.16-150100.3.44.1`
`postgresql12` SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP5	All versions	`12.16-3.42.1`
`postgresql13` SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP5	All versions	`13.12-3.36.1`
`postgresql14` SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP5	All versions	`14.9-3.26.1`
`postgresql13` SUSE:Manager Proxy 4.2	All versions	`13.12-150200.5.43.1`
`postgresql14` SUSE:Manager Proxy 4.2	All versions	`14.9-150200.5.29.1`
`postgresql13` SUSE:Manager Server 4.2	All versions	`13.12-150200.5.43.1`
`postgresql14` SUSE:Manager Server 4.2	All versions	`14.9-150200.5.29.1`
`postgresql12` openSUSE:Leap 15.4	All versions	`12.16-150200.8.47.1`
`postgresql13` openSUSE:Leap 15.4	All versions	`13.12-150200.5.43.1`
`postgresql14` openSUSE:Leap 15.4	All versions	`14.9-150200.5.29.1`
`postgresql12` openSUSE:Leap 15.5	All versions	`12.16-150200.8.47.1`
`postgresql13` openSUSE:Leap 15.5	All versions	`13.12-150200.5.43.1`
`postgresql14` openSUSE:Leap 15.5	All versions	`14.9-150200.5.29.1`
`postgresql11` openSUSE:Tumbleweed	All versions	`11.21-1.1`
`postgresql12` openSUSE:Tumbleweed	All versions	`12.16-1.1`
`postgresql13` openSUSE:Tumbleweed	All versions	`13.12-1.1`
`postgresql14` openSUSE:Tumbleweed	All versions	`14.9-1.1`

Products include Debian Debian Linux, Postgresql Postgresql, Redhat Enterprise Linux, Redhat Software Collections.

How do I fix CVE-2023-39417?

Upgrade postgresql to a fixed version for your release line: 11.21.0, 12.16.0, 13.12.0 or 14.9.0.

Use parameterised queries everywhere and never build SQL by joining strings. Upgrade affected software first; a web application firewall only buys time. More about SQL injection.

Is CVE-2023-39417 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-39417 in the wild and no public exploit code.

All Debian Debian Linux vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as ALPINE-CVE-2023-39417, AZL-27892, BIT-postgresql-2023-39417, CLEANSTART-2026-JQ15135, CLSA-2023-1695319921, CLSA-2023-1696537563 and 23 more.