CVE-2026-116247
When a server in pgAdmin 4 had no password file, client certificate or client key configured, or the configured one could not be found, pgAdmin left the parameter out of the connection and libpq fell back to the defaults of the operating-system account running pgAdmin: ~/.pgpass, ~/.postgresql/postgresql.crt and postgresql.key, or PGPASSFILE, PGSSLCERT and PGSSLKEY. In server mode any user could therefore connect to a server with the service account's saved passwords or client certificate, and supplying only a copy of its public certificate was enough for libpq to pair it with the service account's private key. A pg_service.conf entry, or a maintenance database name read as a connection string by pg_dumpall, could bring the same files back for the utilities. The fix gives each of these parameters a value in server mode, the user's own file or otherwise a path that can never be opened, in the connection string, in the environment of the utilities and in the --dbname connection string that ranks above a service entry. Desktop mode is unchanged. This issue affects pgAdmin 4: before 9.19.
Executive briefing
This record describes a reported software or hardware weakness. The description and CVSS rating are source metadata; practical risk depends on whether your environment uses an affected product/version and whether the vulnerable component is reachable and configured in an exploitable way.
Severity & exploitability
CVSS vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Impacted products and platforms
Specific affected product configurations are not currently available in the NVD record. Review vendor advisories and validate applicability against your asset inventory.
How it works and what it could affect
The NVD description is the authoritative short summary currently available for this record. A detailed technical mechanism is not inferred when the source record does not provide one.
Weakness classification: CWE-522CWE-1188
Review the CVSS attack characteristics above to understand whether exploitation is network/local, whether privileges or user interaction are required, and which confidentiality, integrity or availability impacts are scored.
Remediation and recommended response
- Identify exposure: compare the affected product and version ranges below with your asset inventory, software bill of materials, endpoint inventory and externally exposed services.
- Remediate: review the linked vendor security advisory or patch notes, upgrade to a fixed release, or apply the vendor-provided workaround if an upgrade cannot be completed.
- Mitigate while patching: restrict network access to the vulnerable service, disable the affected feature where operationally safe, and monitor vendor/CERT advisories for updated guidance.
- Validate: confirm the fixed version or mitigation on representative systems, run a vulnerability rescan, and retain change evidence.
Vendor remediation / security advisories
Exploit intelligence & references
No CISA KEV match is recorded in the latest successful catalog refresh. This is not a guarantee that public proof-of-concept code or exploitation does not exist.
Sources: NVD and CISA KEV when available. Vendor confirmation remains the final authority for fixed versions and workarounds.