PostgreSQL Credentials Scanner

The PostgreSQL software is a powerful, open-source object-relational database system. It is used globally by businesses, developers, and organizations for managing data securely and reliably. PostgreSQL supports advanced data types and performance optimization features, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. Many enterprises use it for transactional and analytical applications both on-prem and on cloud environments. The software is highly extensible, allowing users to create custom data types and languages for their specific needs. Its robust feature set makes it a popular choice in diverse sectors, including finance, healthcare, and technology.

The vulnerability detected by this scanner is the exposure of PostgreSQL credentials, which can be a severe risk. This issue arises when PostgreSQL history files, such as .pgpass, containing plaintext database credentials are accessible through HTTP. Such exposure can lead to unauthorized access to the database, which may hold sensitive information. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain control over the database, leading to data breaches or manipulation. The leakage of database usernames and passwords is critical, and can potentially compromise internal infrastructure. Ensuring these credentials are undisclosed is crucial for maintaining database security.

In the technical details, the scanner checks for the existence of history files like .pgpass at a specified endpoint. It looks for these files via HTTP by sending GET requests to the base URL followed by /.pgpass. A successful detection occurs if the status returns 200, and if the regex matcher identifies a pattern matching the PostgreSQL credentials format. The vulnerability resides in those endpoints that improperly manage the exposure of such sensitive files. The presence of these details signals a misconfiguration that needs immediate attention to protect the database from unauthorized access.

When this vulnerability is exploited by malicious individuals, it can have significant security implications. Intruders could access sensitive data, including financial records, personal information, or proprietary business intelligence. They might manipulate or delete critical data, leading to data loss or corruption. Additionally, an attacker could use the credentials to access other internal resources or conduct further attacks within the network. All these actions pose substantial risks to the organization, potentially resulting in reputational damage, financial losses, and regulatory penalties.

REFERENCES

• https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/libpq-pgpass.html
• https://cheatsheetseries.owasp.org/cheatsheets/Database_Security_Cheat_Sheet.html#postgresql