CVE-2025-12762: Pgadmin 4 RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-12762 Overview

CVE-2025-12762 is a Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability affecting pgAdmin versions up to 9.9 when running in server mode. The vulnerability occurs during the restore operation from PLAIN-format dump files, allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary commands on the server hosting pgAdmin. This poses a critical risk to the integrity and security of the database management system and underlying data.

Critical Impact

Successful exploitation enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the pgAdmin server, potentially compromising the database management system, accessing sensitive data, and gaining control of the underlying infrastructure.

Affected Products

• pgAdmin 4 versions up to and including 9.9
• pgAdmin 4 running in server mode
• Systems performing restores from PLAIN-format dump files

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-11-13 - CVE-2025-12762 published to NVD
• 2025-12-01 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-12762

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code / Code Injection). The flaw exists in how pgAdmin handles PLAIN-format dump files during restore operations when running in server mode. PLAIN-format dump files contain raw SQL statements and shell commands that are executed directly, and insufficient validation of these files before processing allows malicious content to be injected and executed.

When a user initiates a restore operation using a crafted PLAIN-format dump file, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the contents. This allows an attacker to embed arbitrary shell commands within the dump file that will be executed with the privileges of the pgAdmin server process.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-12762 lies in improper input validation during the processing of PLAIN-format dump files. pgAdmin's restore functionality does not adequately sanitize file contents before passing them to the underlying system for execution. Since PLAIN-format dumps are essentially SQL scripts that may include shell escapes or be processed through command interpreters, malicious payloads can be injected to achieve command execution on the host system.

Attack Vector

The attack requires network access to the pgAdmin instance running in server mode. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by:

1. Crafting a malicious PLAIN-format dump file containing embedded shell commands
2. Uploading or providing the malicious dump file to the pgAdmin restore functionality
3. When the restore operation is executed, the injected commands run with the privileges of the pgAdmin server process

Since the vulnerability requires no authentication (network-accessible with no privilege requirements), any user with access to the pgAdmin restore functionality could potentially trigger the exploit. The attack complexity is low, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-tenant or externally-accessible pgAdmin deployments.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-12762

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected child processes spawned by the pgAdmin server process
• Unusual network connections originating from the pgAdmin server
• Suspicious entries in pgAdmin logs during restore operations
• Modified or newly created files in unexpected locations on the pgAdmin host

Detection Strategies

• Monitor pgAdmin server processes for abnormal command execution patterns
• Implement file integrity monitoring on pgAdmin server directories
• Analyze restore operation logs for unusual dump file characteristics
• Deploy network monitoring to detect outbound connections from pgAdmin servers to unknown destinations

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for pgAdmin restore operations
• Configure alerts for process creation events from pgAdmin server processes
• Implement egress filtering to detect potential command-and-control communications
• Review access logs to identify unauthorized restore attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-12762

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade pgAdmin to a version newer than 9.9 that addresses this vulnerability
• Restrict access to the pgAdmin restore functionality to trusted administrators only
• Disable server mode if not required for your deployment
• Implement network segmentation to limit pgAdmin server exposure

Patch Information

pgAdmin users should update to the latest patched version as soon as it becomes available. For detailed information about the vulnerability and fix status, refer to the pgAdmin GitHub Issue #9320. Monitor official pgAdmin release channels for security updates addressing CVE-2025-12762.

Workarounds

• Avoid restoring from untrusted or unverified PLAIN-format dump files
• Run pgAdmin in desktop mode instead of server mode where possible
• Implement strict access controls limiting who can perform restore operations
• Consider using non-PLAIN format dumps (custom or directory formats) until a patch is applied

# Restrict pgAdmin server access via firewall rules
# Example: Allow access only from trusted management networks
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 5050 -s 10.0.0.0/8 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 5050 -j DROP