# CVE-2025-22248: [pgpool] Unauthenticated access to postgres through pgpool

> Unauthenticated access to PostgreSQL via the repmgr user in default Bitnami pgpool configurations allows attackers to read and modify database data.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.4 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:A/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 13 May 2025
- **Updated:** 13 May 2025
- **Also known as:** BIT-pgpool-2025-22248, GHSA-mx38-x658-5fwj

## What is CVE-2025-22248?

CVE-2025-22248 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in VMware Bitnami, published on 13 May 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The bitnami/pgpool Docker image, and the bitnami/postgres-ha k8s chart, under default configurations, comes with an 'repmgr' user that allows unauthenticated access to the database inside the cluster. The PGPOOL_SR_CHECK_USER is the user that Pgpool itself uses to perform streaming replication checks against nodes, and should not be at trust level. This allows to log into a PostgreSQL database using the repgmr user without authentication. If Pgpool is exposed externally, a potential attacker could use this user to get access to the service. This is also present within the bitnami/postgres-ha Kubernetes Helm chart.

Weakness: CWE-1188 (Initialization of a Resource with an Insecure Default)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-22248?

1 open source package ship an affected version, including pgpool. It affects 2 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `pgpool` | Bitnami | All versions | 4.6.0-1 |

Products: Broadcom Bitnami, Broadcom Bitnami\/Pgpool.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-22248?

Upgrade pgpool to 4.6.0-1 or later.

## Is CVE-2025-22248 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-22248 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-22248 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-22248 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in VMware Bitnami, published on 13 May 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-22248 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- pgpool (Bitnami): affected all versions; fixed in 4.6.0-1

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-2025-22248/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-22248/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-22248
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-22248
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-22248

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-22248/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.