Stored Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability in pgAdmin 4 by pgAdmin

CVE-2026-12048

What is CVE-2026-12048?

CVE-2026-12048 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability found in pgAdmin 4, an open-source administration and management tool for PostgreSQL database systems. This vulnerability arises from how pgAdmin handles error messages and rendering plans, allowing potentially malicious input from a PostgreSQL server to be passed unfiltered to the user interface. When a victim connects to a compromised PostgreSQL server or interacts with a crafted Explain plan, an attacker can inject arbitrary HTML, including scripts and iframes, into the pgAdmin DOM. The presence of such unauthorized HTML content can mislead users, making it difficult to distinguish legitimate dialogue from phishing attempts, as traditional anti-clickjacking measures do not apply effectively in this scenario. The repercussion of this vulnerability extends beyond mere exploitation; it undermines the integrity and trust of the pgAdmin interface, potentially leading to unauthorized access and malicious activities.

Potential impact of CVE-2026-12048

1. User Deception and Data Theft: Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to create phishing pages that render inside the pgAdmin interface, significantly increasing the chance of human error and data theft as users might unknowingly enter sensitive information into these counterfeit forms.

2. Compromise of System Integrity: As the vulnerability allows for JavaScript execution through injected iframes, attackers can redirect users to malicious sites or exploit browser vulnerabilities, further compromising the integrity of the pgAdmin user environment and, by extension, the underlying databases managed through the software.

3. Widespread Exploitation Potential: Given the nature of the vulnerability, an attacker controlling a PostgreSQL server could target multiple users who connect to it, leading to widespread unauthorized access across various organizations. This broad attack vector compounds the risk of potential data breaches and operational disruptions for businesses utilizing pgAdmin 4.

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