Covert timing channel in comparison of MD5-hashed password in PostgreSQL authentication allows an attacker to recover user credentials sufficient to authenticate. This does not affect scram-sha-256 passwords, the default in all supported releases. However, current databases may have MD5-hashed passwords originating in upgrades from PostgreSQL 13 or earlier. Versions before PostgreSQL 18.4, 17.10, 16.14, 15.18, and 14.23 are affected.

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6269-1 postgresql-15 security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6270-1 postgresql-17 security update
Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.


Workaround

reset password with password_encryption=scram-sha-256

History

Thu, 14 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Postgresql
Postgresql postgresql
Vendors & Products Postgresql
Postgresql postgresql

Thu, 14 May 2026 13:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Covert timing channel in comparison of MD5-hashed password in PostgreSQL authentication allows an attacker to recover user credentials sufficient to authenticate. This does not affect scram-sha-256 passwords, the default in all supported releases. However, current databases may have MD5-hashed passwords originating in upgrades from PostgreSQL 13 or earlier. Versions before PostgreSQL 18.4, 17.10, 16.14, 15.18, and 14.23 are affected.
Title PostgreSQL discloses MD5-hashed passwords via covert timing channel
Weaknesses CWE-385
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N'}


Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: PostgreSQL

Published:

Updated: 2026-05-14T13:00:13.174Z

Reserved: 2026-04-17T00:44:57.549Z

Link: CVE-2026-6478

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-05-14T14:16:25.463

Modified: 2026-05-14T14:16:25.463

Link: CVE-2026-6478

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-05-14T14:45:22Z

Weaknesses