CVE-2026-120146 PostgreSQL REASSIGN OWNED bypasses role SET and CREATEDB checks
A role granted INHERIT but not SET can transfer objects to itself or reassign database ownership without CREATEDB; PostgreSQL administrators should care.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Harmful if only installed
- No
- Needs a specific call
- No
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-120146?
CVE-2026-120146 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in PostgreSQL, published on 12 Nov 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
Missing authorization in PostgreSQL REASSIGN OWNED allows a role granted INHERIT but not SET to transfer objects to the granted role. It also allows reassignment of database ownership without the CREATEDB privilege. The equivalent ALTER ... OWNER commands block this. Versions before PostgreSQL 18.7, 17.12, 16.16, 15.20, and 14.25 are affected.
Weakness: CWE-862
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-120146?
An affected version is exposed as installed. No special setting or call is needed.
How do I fix CVE-2026-120146?
Upgrade to a fixed version.
Upgrade, and check permissions on every request on the server, not only in the interface. More about Missing authorization.
Is CVE-2026-120146 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-120146 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as ALPINE-CVE-2026-120146, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-120146, ECHO-fdd4-901b-6d01, GHSA-v5xq-4x8p-53j2.