CVE-2025-55282: Aiven-db-migrate Privilege Escalation

CVE-2025-55282 Overview

CVE-2025-55282 is a privilege escalation vulnerability in aiven-db-migrate, the Aiven database migration tool for PostgreSQL. Versions prior to 1.0.7 fail to restrict the PostgreSQL search_path during migration operations. An attacker controlling an untrusted source server can override pg_catalog and execute attacker-supplied operators with superuser privileges on the destination database. The issue is fixed in version 1.0.7.

Critical Impact
An attacker with control over a source PostgreSQL database can escalate to superuser on the destination server during a migration, leading to full database compromise.

Affected Products

aiven-db-migrate versions prior to 1.0.7
PostgreSQL destination databases receiving migrations from untrusted sources
Aiven-managed PostgreSQL environments performing cross-server migrations

Discovery Timeline

2025-08-18 - CVE-2025-55282 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-55282

Vulnerability Analysis

The flaw resides in how aiven-db-migrate interacts with PostgreSQL objects during migration. PostgreSQL resolves unqualified names using the search_path session variable, which normally places pg_catalog first to protect built-in operators and functions. When aiven-db-migrate executes migration statements without pinning search_path to a trusted value, an attacker who controls schema objects on the source server can define look-alike operators or functions in a schema that shadows pg_catalog.

During migration, these attacker-defined operators execute in the context of the migration user, which typically holds superuser privileges on the destination. The CWE-22 mapping reflects the path-resolution nature of the abuse, though the practical impact is arbitrary SQL execution as a PostgreSQL superuser. This grants full read, write, and administrative control over the target cluster.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing hardening of the PostgreSQL search_path in sessions established by the migration tool. Without an explicit SET search_path = pg_catalog, pg_temp or equivalent restriction, name resolution can be hijacked by objects present in user-owned schemas on the untrusted source. The fix in commit 39517dc55720055d93262033b142a365f5bf92c5 enforces safe search_path handling.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires an attacker to control or influence the source PostgreSQL server referenced by a migration job. The attacker seeds the source database with malicious operator or function definitions in a schema that will be evaluated ahead of pg_catalog. When the migration tool connects and runs SQL against the destination with elevated privileges, the malicious operator executes and grants superuser-level actions to the attacker.

Because the attack chain requires an existing high-privilege migration context, the exploit requires high privileges on the source side but produces high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact on the destination. Refer to the GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-hmvf-93r4-36f9 for advisory context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-55282

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected schemas, operators, or functions created on source PostgreSQL servers immediately before a migration run
PostgreSQL audit logs showing DDL executed by the migration role outside of expected migration statements
Creation of new superuser roles or ALTER ROLE ... SUPERUSER events on destination clusters following a migration
Migration jobs completing with unexplained schema objects on the destination that do not exist on the source baseline

Detection Strategies

Enable pgaudit or equivalent logging on both source and destination clusters and review DDL performed during migration windows
Compare pre- and post-migration schema snapshots to detect injected operators, functions, or role grants
Alert on any session where search_path is modified during a migration or where user-defined operators resolve before pg_catalog
Inventory deployed versions of aiven-db-migrate and flag any instance running a version below 1.0.7

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward PostgreSQL server logs to a centralized SIEM and build detections for CREATE ROLE, ALTER ROLE SUPERUSER, and CREATE OPERATOR events tied to migration accounts
Monitor outbound network connections from migration hosts to unexpected PostgreSQL endpoints
Track process execution and command-line arguments for aiven-db-migrate invocations across CI/CD and operator workstations

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-55282

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade aiven-db-migrate to version 1.0.7 or later on all systems that perform PostgreSQL migrations
Audit destination PostgreSQL clusters for unauthorized superuser roles or objects created during recent migrations
Restrict migration jobs to source servers whose administrators and schema contents are fully trusted
Rotate credentials for any PostgreSQL superuser account used by prior migration runs from untrusted sources

Patch Information

The vulnerability is fixed in aiven-db-migrate version 1.0.7. Review the upstream fix in commit 39517dc, which enforces a safe search_path during migration operations. Deployments should pin dependency versions to >=1.0.7 in package manifests and rebuild container images that bundle the tool.

Workarounds

Only run migrations from source databases under exclusive administrative control until the upgrade is applied
Execute migrations using a role with the minimum privileges required, avoiding PostgreSQL superuser where possible
Manually set search_path = pg_catalog, pg_temp on migration sessions when custom wrappers are used
Review and drop untrusted schemas on the source before initiating a migration

bash

# Configuration example
pip install --upgrade 'aiven-db-migrate>=1.0.7'

# Verify installed version
python -c "import aiven_db_migrate; print(aiven_db_migrate.__version__)"

# Enforce a safe search_path when running custom migration SQL
psql -h destination.example.com -U migrator -d target_db \
  -c "SET search_path = pg_catalog, pg_temp;"