The vulnerability CVE-2026-14681 could compromise system integrity but typically requires user interaction to be exploited.
Status: Received on 13 Aug 2026, 13:17 UTC
Published on: 13 Aug 2026, 13:17 UTC
CVSS Release: version 3
f86ef6dc-4d3a-42ad-8f28-e6d5547a5007
Secondary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
CVE-2026-14681: Improper enforcement of message integrity in PostgreSQL GSSAPI support allows a user to negotiate GSSAPI contrary to pg_hba.conf rules, via initial direct TLS connection. Despite a pg_hba.conf that appears to require GSSAPI, the connection may exchange data over TLS encryption alone. If the TLS settings are more permissive than the GSS settings, the connection may continue with lesser protection. Within major versions 17-18, minor versions before PostgreSQL 18.5 and 17.11 are affected. Versions before PostgreSQL 17 are unaffected.
The exploitability of CVE-2026-14681 depends on two key factors: attack complexity (the level of effort required to execute an exploit) and privileges required (the access level an attacker needs).
This vulnerability, CVE-2026-14681, requires a high level of attack complexity and low privileges, making it difficult but not impossible to exploit. Organizations should ensure robust security configurations to mitigate risks.
A lower complexity and fewer privilege requirements make exploitation easier. Security teams should evaluate these aspects to determine the urgency of mitigation strategies, such as patch management and access control policies.
Attack Complexity (AC) measures the difficulty in executing an exploit. A high AC means that specific conditions must be met, making an attack more challenging, while a low AC means the vulnerability can be exploited with minimal effort.
Privileges Required (PR) determine the level of system access necessary for an attack. Vulnerabilities requiring no privileges are more accessible to attackers, whereas high privilege requirements limit exploitation to authorized users with elevated access.
Above is the CVSS Sub-score Breakdown for CVE-2026-14681, illustrating how Base, Impact, and Exploitability factors combine to form the overall severity rating. A higher sub-score typically indicates a more severe or easier-to-exploit vulnerability.
Below is the Impact Analysis for CVE-2026-14681, showing how Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability might be affected if the vulnerability is exploited. Higher values usually signal greater potential damage.
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