# 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.

- **Severity:** High 8.7 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 28 Sep 2026
- **Updated:** 28 Sep 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gq88-v7m3-v3c5

## 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 (Missing Authorization)

## 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.

## Is CVE-2026-96538 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-96538 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-96538 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: 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.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-96538 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: EnterpriseDB WarehousePG. 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-2026-96538/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-96538/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-96538
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96538
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96538

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-96538/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.