CVE-2017-7546: PostgreSQL versions before 9.2.22, 9.3.18, 9.4.13, 9.5.8 and 9.6.4 are vulnerable to incorrect authentication

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CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEWATCHLISTDOWNGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2017-7546 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting postgresql, debian linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

PostgreSQL versions before 9.2.22, 9.3.18, 9.4.13, 9.5.8 and 9.6.4 are vulnerable to incorrect authentication flaw allowing remote attackers to gain access to database accounts with an empty password.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	61.6% (top 1%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-287
Published	2017-08-16
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: debian · postgresql

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2017-08-16 18:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:24 UTCUpdated Record last modified

postgresql postgresql DOWNGRADE

Affected: 9.2 · 9.2.1 · 9.2.2 · 9.2.3 · 9.2.4 · 9.2.5 · 9.2.6 · 9.2.7

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 9.2

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy postgresql || rpm -q postgresql || postgresql --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 9.2 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison postgresql sudo apt install postgresql=<VERSION_BEFORE_9.2> sudo apt-mark hold postgresql

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list postgresql sudo dnf downgrade postgresql-<VERSION_BEFORE_9.2> sudo dnf versionlock add postgresql

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 9.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 9.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora ELN · fuse-sshfs · FIXED · 3.7.6-3.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-bcb7be7c5c · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-bcb7be7c5c

Fedora 46 · python-odata-query · FIXED · 0.10.1-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-eab44dc513 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-eab44dc513

RHEL 6 · postgresql · FIXED · postgresql-8.4.20-8.el6_9

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2017:2860 rpm -q postgresql

RHEL 7 · postgresql · FIXED · postgresql-9.2.23-1.el7_4

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2017:2728 rpm -q postgresql

RHEL 5 · postgresql · DEFERRED

RHEL 5 · postgresql84 · DEFERRED

Alpine 3.20 · postgresql15 · FIXED · postgresql15-9.6.4-r0

apk add --upgrade postgresql15 apk info -v postgresql15

Alpine 3.20 · postgresql14 · FIXED · postgresql14-9.6.4-r0

apk add --upgrade postgresql14 apk info -v postgresql14

Amazon Linux 1 · see advisory · FIXED · ALAS-2017-908 · source

sudo yum update --advisory=ALAS-2017-908

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2017-7546?

postgresql: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2017-7546 being exploited?

CVE-2017-7546 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2017-7546 affect?

CVE-2017-7546 affects postgresql, debian linux. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). PostgreSQL versions before 9.2.22, 9.3.18, 9.4.13, 9.5.8 and 9.6.4 are vulnerable to incorrect authentication flaw allowing remote attackers to gain access to database accounts with an empty password.

How urgent is CVE-2017-7546?

Priority 69/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

PostgreSQL vulnerabilities · Debian vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2023-5869 HIGH 8.8 UPGRADE DOWNGRADE A flaw was found in PostgreSQL that allows authenticated database users to execute arbitrary code through miss
CVE-2022-2625 HIGH 8.0 UPGRADE MITIGATE A vulnerability was found in PostgreSQL
CVE-2023-39417 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE MITIGATE IN THE EXTENSION SCRIPT, a SQL Injection vulnerability was found in PostgreSQL if it uses @extowner@, @extsche
CVE-2017-12172 MEDIUM 6.7 DOWNGRADE PostgreSQL 10.x before 10.1, 9.6.x before 9.6.6, 9.5.x before 9.5.10, 9.4.x before 9.4.15, 9.3.x before 9.3.20
CVE-2018-1115 CRITICAL 9.1 UPGRADE MITIGATE postgresql before versions 10.4, 9.6.9 is vulnerable in the adminpack extension, the pg_catalog.pg_logfile_rot

References

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