PostgreSQL observable response discrepancy with non-default scram_iterations provides user existence oracle (CVE-2026-14672) | HOL Guard CVE

Medium · CVSS 5.3CVE-2026-14672

PostgreSQL observable response discrepancy with non-default scram_iterations provides user existence oracle

Answer in brief

CVE-2026-14672 records a Medium severity (CVSS 5.3) vulnerability in PostgreSQL observable response discrepancy with non-default scram_iterations provides user existence oracle. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps n/a/PostgreSQL (generic), n/a/PostgreSQL (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Analysis pending evidence review

HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.

Published Aug 13, 2026Updated Aug 29, 2026Source checked Sep 27, 2026First seen by HOL Aug 13, 2026Material review Aug 29, 2026

Upstream Advisory

Key facts

Risk: Medium · CVSS 5.3
Exploitation: Not marked as known exploited
Affected software: 3 mapped packages or products
Fix availability: Available

Why this deserves its current priority

CVSS is 5.3. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.

Analysis status

Analysis pending evidence review

Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.

Affected scope and exposure questions

The current feed maps n/a/PostgreSQL (generic), n/a/PostgreSQL (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Affected products and reported versions
Product	Affected versions	Fixed versions
cpe:2.3:a:postgresql:postgresql::::::::	Not reported	Not reported

Mapped affected packages and fixed versions
Package	Affected range	Fixed version
n/a/PostgreSQLgeneric	>=18 <18.5 \|\| >=17 <17.11 \|\| >=16 <16.15	18.5, 17.11, 16.15
n/a/PostgreSQLgeneric	>=18 <18.6 \|\| >=17 <17.11 \|\| >=16 <16.15	18.6, 17.11, 16.15

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for n/a/PostgreSQL, n/a/PostgreSQL.
Review the reported fix. Update n/a/PostgreSQL to 18.5; n/a/PostgreSQL to 18.6 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
Aug 13, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Aug 29, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Aug 13, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Source referencepostgresql.org

Upstream source description

Observable response discrepancy in PostgreSQL SCRAM authentication allows an unauthenticated user to test the existence of a user via observing the SCRAM iteration count. This requires the probed user to have a non-default scram_iterations count, because the authentication challenge for a nonexistent user reports the default scram_iterations. Within major versions 16-18, minor versions before PostgreSQL 18.6, 17.11, and 16.15 are affected. Versions before PostgreSQL 16 are unaffected.

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.