CVE-2026-96538 WarehousePG pg_file_write/pg_file_rename/pg_file_unlink/pg_logdir_ls privilege escalation
Non-superusers can exploit missing authorization in file functions to modify configuration files, leading to arbitrary code execution as the postgres user.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-96538?
CVE-2026-96538 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in EnterpriseDB WarehousePG, published on 28 Sep 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
WarehousePG (WHPG) 7.x before 7.6.0-WHPG is affected by a missing authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) in the built-in server-side file functions pg_file_write(text,text,bool), pg_file_rename(text,text,text), pg_file_unlink(text), and pg_logdir_ls(). These functions are executable by any authenticated database role with no GRANT required, because the REVOKE that contrib/adminpack applies to the equivalent functions was never carried over to WHPG core when their catalog entries were repointed to the ungated adminpack-derived implementations as part of Greenplum's merge to a PostgreSQL 12 base. A non-superuser can use pg_file_write, pg_file_rename, and pg_file_unlink to create, overwrite (append), rename, and delete files under the data and log directories, and can use pg_logdir_ls() to enumerate log file names. Because postgresql.auto.conf resides in the data directory, a non-superuser can append configuration directives such as shared_preload_libraries or archive_command to it, resulting in arbitrary code execution as the postgres operating system user on the next server restart or configuration reload. WarehousePG 6.x is not affected, as the equivalent functions there enforce a superuser check internally.
Weakness: CWE-862
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-96538?
How do I fix CVE-2026-96538?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-96538 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade, and check permissions on every request on the server, not only in the interface. More about Missing authorization.
Is CVE-2026-96538 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-96538 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-gq88-v7m3-v3c5.