CVE-2026-55769: cloudnative-pg Untrusted Search Path

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-55769 is a critical (CVSS 9.4) Untrusted Search Path vulnerability in cloudnative-pg. EPSS estimates a 0.77% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 54.8% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 20-08-2026
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 21-08-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

CloudNativePG is a platform designed to manage PostgreSQL databases within Kubernetes environments. Prior to 1.28.4 and 1.29.2, CloudNativePG opened superuser connections without pinning search_path in fillDefaultParameters in pkg/management/postgres/pool/profiles.go. A role holding DATABASE OWNER could create overloaded built-in operators in the public schema and change the database or role search_path, causing instance-manager introspection queries such as SELECT COUNT(*) > 0 FROM pg_catalog.pg_extension WHERE extname = $1 to execute attacker-controlled functions as the postgres superuser. The same trust issue affected direct sql.Open("pgx", ...) callsites and the public.user_search SECURITY DEFINER function, enabling PostgreSQL superuser access, operating system command execution through COPY ... FROM PROGRAM, and access to the pod ServiceAccount token. This issue is fixed in versions 1.28.4, 1.29.2, and 1.30.0.

• CWE-426Untrusted Search PathThe product searches for critical resources using an externally-supplied search path that can point to resources that are not under the product's direct control.