# What is CVE-2019-9193?

> CVE-2019-9193 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.2) in PostgreSQL, published on 1 April 2019. It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 92%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2019-9193

## At a glance

- **Verdict:** Fix this soon. Not confirmed as exploited yet, but serious or likely enough that it should not wait for a quiet month.
- **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 70 out of 100 (High); action: Patch now. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** High (CVSS 7.2 out of 10)
- **Known to be exploited:** No, not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today
- **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 92% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 1 April 2019
- **Record last updated:** 4 August 2024
- **Main product:** PostgreSQL
- **Affected products:** 1

## What is CVE-2019-9193? In plain terms

It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet with an administrator account, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### The official 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’.

### What kind of flaw is it?

- CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')

### How an attack on it works

- Where an attacker can be: Anywhere on the internet
- How hard it is to pull off: Easy: no special conditions
- Login needed first: An administrator account
- Does someone have to click: No, nobody has to do anything
- What an attacker gets: Can read data, change data and take it offline

Severity vector: `CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Is CVE-2019-9193 being exploited? Not that we know of

It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 92%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 92%, 92%, 92%, 92%, 92%, 92%, 92%.

### Timeline

- 1 April 2019: Published
- 4 August 2024: Record last updated

### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it

CVE-2019-9193 scores **70 out of 100 (High)**, with the action "Patch now".

Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less:

- Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor
- How severe it is: strong factor
- How widely exposed it is: smaller factor
- Threat activity around it: smaller factor

85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.

## Who is affected by CVE-2019-9193?

The published record lists 1 product.

- [PostgreSQL](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/postgresql/postgresql) by [PostgreSQL](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/postgresql) (Application): 9.3 to 11.2

## How do I fix CVE-2019-9193?

1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the latest update from the vendor. The references list where the vendor has published details.
3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
4. **Keep an eye on it.** Track the product and we tell you as soon as we spot this flaw on the list of exploited flaws, or a jump in its exploit likelihood.

### References

- [packetstormsecurity.com](http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152757/PostgreSQL-COPY-FROM-PROGRAM-Command-Execution.html) (Third-party advisory)
- [packetstormsecurity.com](http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/166540/PostgreSQL-11.7-Remote-Code-Execution.html)
- [packetstormsecurity.com](http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171722/PostgreSQL-9.6.1-Remote-Code-Execution.html)
- [blog.hagander.net](https://blog.hagander.net/when-a-vulnerability-is-not-a-vulnerability-244/) (Third-party advisory)
- [medium.com](https://medium.com/greenwolf-security/authenticated-arbitrary-command-execution-on-postgresql-9-3-latest-cd18945914d5) (Exploit, Third-party advisory)
- [paquier.xyz](https://paquier.xyz/postgresql-2/postgres-9-3-feature-highlight-copy-tofrom-program/) (Third-party advisory)
- [security.netapp.com](https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20190502-0003/) (Third-party advisory)
- [trustwave.com](https://www.trustwave.com/en-us/resources/blogs/spiderlabs-blog/authenticated-arbitrary-command-execution-on-postgresql-9-3/) (Third-party advisory)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2019-9193?

CVE-2019-9193 is a high-severity flaw in PostgreSQL, published on 1 April 2019. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet with an administrator account, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### How serious is CVE-2019-9193?

It scores 7.2 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is high. Our risk score for CVE-2019-9193 is 70 out of 100, which is High. Its action is "Patch now". Not confirmed as exploited yet, but serious or likely enough that it should not wait for a quiet month.

### Is CVE-2019-9193 being exploited?

It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 92%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

### Which versions does CVE-2019-9193 affect?

For PostgreSQL: 9.3 to 11.2.

### How do I fix CVE-2019-9193?

Install the update the vendor names in its advisory. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet.

## Does CVE-2019-9193 affect you?

Precursor Intelligence keeps checking for you:

- **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.

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