CVE-2026-17566
published 2026-07-31CVE-2026-17566: pgAdmin 4's Import/Export Data tool builds a psql \copy (...) command line by interpolating a user-supplied SQL query into a Jinja template and passing the…
PriorityP261critical9.9CVSS 3.1
AVNACLPRLUINSCCHIHAH
EPSS
0.56%
45.0th percentile
pgAdmin 4's Import/Export Data tool builds a psql \copy (...) command line by interpolating a user-supplied SQL query into a Jinja template and passing the rendered line to psql via --command. To stop an attacker from breaking out of the (...) wrapper, create_import_export_job() (route POST /import_export/job/, gated only by the ordinary, commonly-granted tools_import_export_data permission) validated the query with a hand-written parenthesis-balance checker, _is_query_parens_balanced(). That checker always treated a backslash before a single quote (\') as escaping the quote, i.e. as if standard_conforming_strings were off. PostgreSQL has defaulted standard_conforming_strings to on since 9.1 (2010), the default on every PostgreSQL version pgAdmin 4 currently supports (13-18); under that default psql's own \copy tokenizer treats \ as an ordinary character, so a single quote immediately after it closes the string literal. A query such as SELECT 'a\') TO PROGRAM 'echo pwned' x' was therefore accepted as "balanced" by pgAdmin's checker (which believed the ) was still inside the string), while psql, run through the actual rendered command line, closes the string at that point and treats the following ) as the end of the wrapping \copy (...) subquery, exposing an attacker-chosen TO PROGRAM '' clause that psql executes via popen() -- independent of a subsequent syntax error later on the same line. This is the same class of bug as CVE-2025-12762/CVE-2025-13780 (RCE via psql meta-command/COPY injection during PLAIN-format dump restore), reached through an independently written defense in a different module (Import/Export Data rather than Restore) that had its own, different logic bug (inverted backslash-escape semantics rather than a BOM-defeated regex anchor).
The fix rejects any backslash inside a single-quoted string in the query outright, rather than picking one of the two possible psql interpretations. This is intentionally conservative: because the correct interpretat
Affected
1 ranges
| Vendor | Product | Version range | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| pgadmin | pgadmin_4 | < 9.18 | 9.18 |
CVSS provenance
nvdv3.19.9CRITICALCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvdv4.09.4CRITICALCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
vendor_redhat9.9CRITICAL
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Red Hat
pgAdmin 4: pgAdmin 4: Remote Code Execution via backslash-escape mismatch in Import/Export Data tool
vendor_redhat·2026-07-31·CVSS 9.9
CVE-2026-17566 [CRITICAL] CWE-78 pgAdmin 4: pgAdmin 4: Remote Code Execution via backslash-escape mismatch in Import/Export Data tool
pgAdmin 4: pgAdmin 4: Remote Code Execution via backslash-escape mismatch in Import/Export Data tool
A flaw was found in pgAdmin 4, a management tool for PostgreSQL databases. The Import/Export Data feature incorrectly processes certain user-provided SQL queries, specifically regarding how backslash characters are interpreted. This vulnerability allows an authenticated remote attacker, with specific permissions, to bypass security checks and execute unauthorized commands on the server running pgAdmin 4. Successful exploitation could lead to remote code execution, giving the attacker full control over the affected system.
Statement: This flaw does not affect Red Hat products, but only the Fedora community project.
GHSA
pgAdmin 4's Import/Export Data tool builds a psql \copy (...) command line by interpolating a user-supplied SQL query into a Jinja template and passing the rendered line to psql via --command.
ghsa_unreviewed·2026-07-31·CVSS 9.8
CVE-2026-17566 [CRITICAL] CWE-78 pgAdmin 4's Import/Export Data tool builds a psql \copy (...) command line by interpolating a user-supplied SQL query into a Jinja template and passing the rendered line to psql via --command.
pgAdmin 4's Import/Export Data tool builds a psql \copy (...) command line by interpolating a user-supplied SQL query into a Jinja template and passing the rendered line to psql via --command. To stop an attacker from breaking out of the (...) wrapper, create_import_export_job() (route POST /import_export/job/, gated only by the ordinary, commonly-granted tools_import_export_data permission) validated the query with a hand-written parenthesis-balance checker, _is_query_parens_balanced(). That checker always treated a backslash before a single quote (\') as escaping the quote, i.e. as if standard_conforming_strings were off. PostgreSQL has defaulted standard_conforming_strings to on since 9.1 (2010), the default on every PostgreSQL version pgAdmin 4 currently supports (13-18); under that de
VulDB
pgAdmin up to 9.17 Import Export Data /import_export/job create_import_export_job os command injection
vuldb·2026-07-31·CVSS 9.9
CVE-2026-17566 [CRITICAL] pgAdmin up to 9.17 Import Export Data /import_export/job create_import_export_job os command injection
A vulnerability was found in pgAdmin up to 9.17. It has been rated as critical. This vulnerability affects the function create_import_export_job of the file /import_export/job of the component Import Export Data. The manipulation leads to os command injection.
This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2026-17566. The attack can be initiated remotely. There is not any exploit available.
Upgrading the affected component is advised.
No detection rules found.
No public exploits indexed.
Bugzilla
CVE-2026-17566 pgAdmin 4: pgAdmin 4: Remote Code Execution via backslash-escape mismatch in Import/Export Data tool
bugzilla·2026-07-31·CVSS 9.8
CVE-2026-17566 [CRITICAL] CVE-2026-17566 pgAdmin 4: pgAdmin 4: Remote Code Execution via backslash-escape mismatch in Import/Export Data tool
CVE-2026-17566 pgAdmin 4: pgAdmin 4: Remote Code Execution via backslash-escape mismatch in Import/Export Data tool
pgAdmin 4's Import/Export Data tool builds a psql \copy (...) command line by interpolating a user-supplied SQL query into a Jinja template and passing the rendered line to psql via --command. To stop an attacker from breaking out of the (...) wrapper, create_import_export_job() (route POST /import_export/job/, gated only by the ordinary, commonly-granted tools_import_export_data permission) validated the query with a hand-written parenthesis-balance checker, _is_query_parens_balanced(). That checker always treated a backslash before a single quote (\') as escaping the quote, i.e. as if standard_conforming_strings were off. PostgreSQL has defaulted standard_conforming_string
Bugzilla
CVE-2026-17566 pgadmin4: pgAdmin 4: Remote Code Execution via backslash-escape mismatch in Import/Export Data tool [fedora-all]
bugzilla·2026-07-31·CVSS 9.8
CVE-2026-17566 [CRITICAL] CVE-2026-17566 pgadmin4: pgAdmin 4: Remote Code Execution via backslash-escape mismatch in Import/Export Data tool [fedora-all]
CVE-2026-17566 pgadmin4: pgAdmin 4: Remote Code Execution via backslash-escape mismatch in Import/Export Data tool [fedora-all]
Disclaimer: Community trackers are created by Red Hat Product Security team on a best effort basis. Package maintainers are required to ascertain if the flaw indeed affects their package, before starting the update process.
pgAdmin 4's Import/Export Data tool builds a psql \copy (...) command line by interpolating a user-supplied SQL query into a Jinja template and passing the rendered line to psql via --command. To stop an attacker from breaking out of the (...) wrapper, create_import_export_job() (route POST /import_export/job/, gated only by the ordinary, commonly-granted tools_import_export_data permission) validated the query with a hand-written parenthesis
2026-07-31
Published