CVE-2019-9193
In PostgreSQL 9.3 through 11.2, the "COPY TO/FROM PROGRAM" function allows superusers and users in the 'pg_execute_server_program' group to execute arbitrary code in the context of the database's operating system user.
Does this matter?
EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 91.7%, higher than 100% of all known CVEs. Patch or mitigate before the next change window.
Description
In PostgreSQL 9.3 through 11.2, the "COPY TO/FROM PROGRAM" function allows superusers and users in the 'pg_execute_server_program' group to execute arbitrary code in the context of the database's operating system user. This functionality is enabled by default and can be abused to run arbitrary operating system commands on Windows, Linux, and macOS. NOTE: Third parties claim/state this is not an issue because PostgreSQL functionality for ‘COPY TO/FROM PROGRAM’ is acting as intended. References state that in PostgreSQL, a superuser can execute commands as the server user without using the ‘COPY FROM PROGRAM’.
- CVSS 3.0
- 7.2 HIGHCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 91.66% probability · 100th percentile
- Public exploits
- 1 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 8 May 2019
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-78
- Affected
- postgresql/postgresql
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS moved from 89.5% on 21 September 2026 to 91.7% on 26 October 2026. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”.
Public exploits (1)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152757/PostgreSQL-COPY-FROM-PROGRAM-Command-Execution.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/166540/PostgreSQL-11.7-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171722/PostgreSQL-9.6.1-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- https://blog.hagander.net/when-a-vulnerability-is-not-a-vulnerability-244/Third Party Advisory
- https://medium.com/greenwolf-security/authenticated-arbitrary-command-execution-on-postgresql-9-3-latest-cd18945914d5Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://paquier.xyz/postgresql-2/postgres-9-3-feature-highlight-copy-tofrom-program/Third Party Advisory
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20190502-0003/Third Party Advisory
- https://www.trustwave.com/en-us/resources/blogs/spiderlabs-blog/authenticated-arbitrary-command-execution-on-postgresql-9-3/Third Party Advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152757/PostgreSQL-COPY-FROM-PROGRAM-Command-Execution.htmlThird Party Advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/166540/PostgreSQL-11.7-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171722/PostgreSQL-9.6.1-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- https://blog.hagander.net/when-a-vulnerability-is-not-a-vulnerability-244/Third Party Advisory
- https://medium.com/greenwolf-security/authenticated-arbitrary-command-execution-on-postgresql-9-3-latest-cd18945914d5Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://paquier.xyz/postgresql-2/postgres-9-3-feature-highlight-copy-tofrom-program/Third Party Advisory
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20190502-0003/Third Party Advisory
- https://www.trustwave.com/en-us/resources/blogs/spiderlabs-blog/authenticated-arbitrary-command-execution-on-postgresql-9-3/Third Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.