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Vulnerability record · CVE-2023-5870 · published 10 December 2023

CVE-2023-5870: Postgresql uncontrolled resource consumption vulnerability

Postgresql · Postgresql

A flaw was found in PostgreSQL involving the pg_cancel_backend role that signals background workers, including the logical replication launcher, autovacuum workers, and the autovacuum launcher. Successful exploitation requires a non-core extension with a less-resilient background worker and would affect that specific background worker only. This issue may allow a remote high privileged user to launch a denial of service (DoS) attack.

4.4 CVSS 3.1 Medium EPSS 2.6% · top 15.6% CWE-400 · Uncontrolled resource consumption
4.4CVSS 3.1 base score
2.6%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
16Affected product versions listed by NVD
52References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

A flaw was found in PostgreSQL involving the pg_cancel_backend role that signals background workers, including the logical replication launcher, autovacuum workers, and the autovacuum launcher. Successful exploitation requires a non-core extension with a less-resilient background worker and would affect that specific background worker only. This issue may allow a remote high privileged user to launch a denial of service (DoS) attack.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Affected products

16 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7545 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7579 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7580 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7581 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7616 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7656 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7666 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7667 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7694 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7695 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7714 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7770 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7772 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7784
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7785
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7883
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7884
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7885
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:0304
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:0332
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:0337
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-5870 Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2247170 Issue Tracking
https://www.postgresql.org/about/news/postgresql-161-155-1410-1313-1217-and-1122-released-2749/ Release Notes
https://www.postgresql.org/support/security/CVE-2023-5870/ Vendor Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7545 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7579 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7580 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7581 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7616 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7656 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7666 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7667 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7694 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7695 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7714 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7770 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7772 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7784
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7785

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2023-5870), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-27). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.