High [CVE-2026-15742] PostgreSQL fuzzystrmatch: Arbitrary code execution via integer wraparound
This high-severity Red Hat Linux advisory covers CVE-2026-15742 affecting Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.
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Summary
Integer wraparound in PostgreSQL fuzzystrmatch allows a user to direct writes to a huge range of addresses, executing arbitrary code as the operating system user running the database, via extreme inputs to SQL function levenshtein() or levenshtein_less_equal(). Versions before PostgreSQL 18.5, 17.11, 16.15, 15.19, and 14.24 are affected.
This vulnerability in the PostgreSQL `fuzzystrmatch` extension is rated as Important. This risk is present only when the `fuzzystrmatch` extension is explicitly installed and utilized, as it is not enabled by default in Red Hat deployments.
Red Hat severity: Important — CVSS 7.5 (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H). Weakness: CWE-190.
Affected Red Hat products: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9; Self-service automation portal 2. Red Hat lists Red Hat Hardened Images as not affected.
Will not fix / out of support: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6. Red Hat does not currently list a fixing RHSA for this CVE.
Affected products named by the advisory: Red Hat package: postgresql16; Red Hat package: postgresql18.
- < 18.5
- < 17.11
- < 16.15
- < 15.19
- < 14.24
Official advisory · high-confidence parse· fetched 3 hours ago·verify at source
Fixed versions
No fixed release is recorded yet. That does not prove no patch exists — confirm against the vendor advisory.
Official advisory · high-confidence parse· fetched 3 hours ago·verify at source
Mitigation checklist
- To mitigate this issue, consider disabling the `fuzzystrmatch` extension within PostgreSQL if its functionality is not essential. Alternatively, the `postgresql-fuzzystrmatch` package can be removed. Disabling or removing the extension may affect applications that rely on the `levenshtein()` or `levenshtein_less_equal()` functions. A database service restart may be required for these changes to take effect.
Official advisory · high-confidence parse· fetched 3 hours ago·verify at source
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