Horizon Alert
Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters
This advisory concerns a security vulnerability in pgAdmin 4 server mode that could allow an unauthenticated attacker to bypass login attempt limits, enabling unlimited password guesses against internal accounts. The issue stems from how certain authentication flows interact with the application's security features.
- Login attempts bypass security controls.
- Enables unlimited password guessing.
- Confirm relevance and potential exposure.
Attack Path
How an attacker could exploit the issue
An unauthenticated attacker could bypass pgAdmin 4's login attempt limits by exploiting how Flask-Security handles login requests. This bypass allows for unlimited password guessing against any internal account, potentially including the administrator's account. The vulnerability allows an attacker to gain access to sensitive internal accounts by repeatedly guessing passwords without triggering account lockouts.
- No authentication required.
- Exploits Flask-Security's login process.
- Leads to unauthorized account access.
Live Threat
Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context
When configured for server mode, this vulnerability could allow an unauthenticated attacker to bypass login attempt limits. This means an attacker could repeatedly guess passwords for internal accounts, including administrator accounts, without triggering account lockouts. This exposure is supported by the advisory's description of bypassing failed login counts and account lock mechanisms.
- Internal account credentials.
- Unlimited password guesses.
- Unauthorized access to internal accounts.
Operational Fix
Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps
Application and infrastructure teams are likely responsible for addressing this vulnerability in pgAdmin 4 server mode. The first practical step is to identify all deployments of pgAdmin 4, confirm their network reachability and business criticality, and then assign an owner to coordinate remediation efforts based on the assessed risk.
- Application owners must confirm scope.
- Verify all pgAdmin 4 server instances.
- Plan maintenance for remediation.
