Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-3515 affects pglogical, a PostgreSQL replication extension. A database user with CREATEDB privileges could craft a database name that causes shell commands to run as the postgresql operating-system user when pglogical.create_subscription() is used.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation on shared or multi-tenant PostgreSQL environments first. The bug needs database privileges, but it crosses from database control into operating-system command execution, which increases business impact.
Technical view
The issue is a CWE-77 shell injection in pglogical versions before 2.3.4 and before 3.6.26. The vulnerable path involves pglogical.create_subscription() handling a crafted database name, enabling command execution under the PostgreSQL service account.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on PostgreSQL servers using pglogical before 2.3.4 or 3.6.26 where untrusted or semi-trusted users have CREATEDB privileges and can invoke pglogical subscription functionality.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show public exploitation or CISA KEV listing. Exploitation requires authenticated database privileges, but successful abuse could run operating-system commands as the postgresql user.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE description and Red Hat Bugzilla reference in the bundle. No CVSS vector, detailed advisory text, or exploit-in-the-wild source is provided, so validation should focus on version, privileges, and pglogical usage.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade pglogical to 2.3.4, 3.6.26, or a later vendor-supported release.
- Review vendor or distribution advisories for backported fixed packages.
- Remove CREATEDB privileges from users who do not strictly need them.
- Restrict pglogical subscription administration to trusted database roles.
- Audit PostgreSQL hosts for unexpected activity by the postgresql system user.
Validation and detection
- Inventory PostgreSQL servers using the pglogical extension.
- Confirm installed pglogical versions against the fixed release thresholds.
- Review database roles with CREATEDB privileges.
- Check who can execute pglogical.create_subscription().
- Look for suspicious PostgreSQL service-account process activity around subscription changes.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-77: Command execution behavior lookup
Command injection weaknesses can lead defenders to review execution techniques and command interpreter telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupDatabase behavior lookup
The CVE wording references database injection or access, so collection and exfiltration review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-3515 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1954112CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.