Use After Free Vulnerability in PostgreSQL plperl Allows Arbitrary Code Execution
CVE-2026-116320

8.8HIGH

Key Information:

Vendor

PostgreSQL
Status
Postgresql
Vendor
CVE Published:
12 November 2026

What is CVE-2026-116320?

A vulnerability in PostgreSQL plperl can be exploited to execute arbitrary code as the operating system user running the database. This occurs due to a use after free condition, triggered when an object creator drops the final reference to a Perl array or hash while PostgreSQL is in the process of converting that object. Affected versions include PostgreSQL 18.6 and earlier, as well as versions 17.11, 16.15, 15.19, and 14.24.

Affected Version(s)

PostgreSQL 18 < 18.7

PostgreSQL 17 < 17.12

PostgreSQL 16 < 16.16

References

https://www.postgresql.org/support/security/CVE-2026-116320/

CVSS V3.1

Score:
8.8
Severity:
HIGH
Confidentiality:
High
Integrity:
High
Availability:
High
Attack Vector:
Network
Attack Complexity:
Low
Privileges Required:
Low
User Interaction:
None
Scope:
Unchanged

Timeline

  • Vulnerability published

  • Vulnerability Reserved

Credit

The PostgreSQL project thanks Anthropic OSS program for reporting this problem.
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