CVE-2025-55283 Overview
CVE-2025-55283 is a privilege escalation vulnerability in aiven-db-migrate, an Aiven database migration tool for PostgreSQL. Versions prior to 1.0.7 allow an attacker controlling a source PostgreSQL server to elevate privileges to superuser on the destination database. The flaw exists because psql executes commands embedded within a dump produced by the untrusted source server. An attacker with high privileges on the source can inject malicious metacommands that execute during migration. Aiven fixed the issue in version 1.0.7. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants superuser access on the destination PostgreSQL database, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all migrated data.
Affected Products
- Aiven aiven-db-migrate versions prior to 1.0.7
- PostgreSQL databases targeted for migration using the affected tool
- Environments migrating from untrusted or attacker-controlled source PostgreSQL servers
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-08-18 - CVE-2025-55283 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-55283
Vulnerability Analysis
The aiven-db-migrate tool orchestrates PostgreSQL migrations by producing a dump from a source server and replaying it on a destination server using the psql client. The tool feeds this dump directly into psql, which interprets both SQL statements and its own metacommands (lines beginning with backslash). An attacker who controls the source server can embed psql metacommands such as \! for shell execution or \connect for session manipulation into the dump output. When the migration runs, psql on the destination host processes those commands with the privileges of the migration user, typically a PostgreSQL superuser.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements ([CWE-77]) in dump content sourced from an untrusted server. The tool trusts the syntactic contents of the dump stream and does not disable psql metacommand interpretation. Because psql treats backslash directives as client-side instructions rather than server-side SQL, malicious content bypasses any database-level access controls. The fix in commit 36f6c7f7d06216975f625da0a1cb514253c4b3df addresses how the migration client consumes untrusted dump input.
Attack Vector
An attacker with administrative control over a source PostgreSQL database prepares crafted objects, comments, or dump content that produce psql metacommands when dumped. The victim initiates a migration using aiven-db-migrate pointing at the malicious source. During replay on the destination, psql executes the injected metacommands, granting the attacker superuser role membership, arbitrary SQL execution, or local command execution on the migration host. The attack requires no user interaction beyond the operator starting a migration from the untrusted source.
See the GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-wqhc-grmj-fjvg for the vendor's technical description.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-55283
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected creation of PostgreSQL roles with SUPERUSER, CREATEROLE, or CREATEDB attributes on the destination server following a migration.
- Presence of psql backslash metacommands such as \!, \copy, or \connect in captured migration logs or dump files.
- Outbound network connections or shell processes spawned by the psql process during migration windows.
Detection Strategies
- Review PostgreSQL server logs on the destination for GRANT, ALTER ROLE, or CREATE ROLE statements executed during migration jobs that were not part of the intended schema.
- Compare the source dump output against a schema baseline before executing it on the destination, flagging any lines beginning with a backslash.
- Audit the version of aiven-db-migrate deployed in CI/CD pipelines and migration hosts, alerting on versions earlier than 1.0.7.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable PostgreSQL log_statement = 'ddl' or 'all' on destination clusters during migration windows to capture role and privilege changes.
- Monitor process trees on migration hosts for child processes spawned by psql, which should not occur during a normal dump replay.
- Forward migration host and database audit logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation with migration job start and stop events.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-55283
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade aiven-db-migrate to version 1.0.7 or later on all migration hosts and pipelines.
- Inventory recent migrations sourced from third-party or untrusted PostgreSQL servers and audit destination clusters for unexpected role changes.
- Rotate credentials for any PostgreSQL superuser accounts used by the migration tool if migrations from untrusted sources have occurred.
Patch Information
The vulnerability is fixed in aiven-db-migrate version 1.0.7. The remediation is contained in commit 36f6c7f7d06216975f625da0a1cb514253c4b3df. Refer to the GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-wqhc-grmj-fjvg for the vendor advisory.
Workarounds
- Only run aiven-db-migrate against source PostgreSQL servers under your direct administrative control, never against attacker-influenced or multi-tenant sources.
- Execute migration jobs under a least-privilege PostgreSQL role rather than a superuser account when the target environment permits it.
- Isolate migration hosts on a restricted network segment to limit the impact of arbitrary shell execution via psql metacommands.
# Upgrade aiven-db-migrate to the patched release
pip install --upgrade 'aiven-db-migrate>=1.0.7'
# Verify installed version
python -c "import aiven_db_migrate; print(aiven_db_migrate.__version__)"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
