---
id: "CVE-2026-105616"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-105616"]
title: "PostgreSQL Anonymizer: salt and shift readable by low-privilege database users"
severity: "medium"
cvss: 5.7
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["managed-postgres", "package", "postgresql", "postgresql-anonymizer", "self-hosted"]
not_affected_if: ["no-salt-or-shift-configured", "upgraded-to-3.3.0"]
published_at: "2026-10-28T18:17:03+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-28T18:34:32+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-28T18:35:11+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-105616", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-28T18:34:32+00:00"}]
---

# PostgreSQL Anonymizer: salt and shift readable by low-privilege database users

PostgreSQL Anonymizer hides its salt and shift from users who lack pg_read_all_settings when read through SHOW. The same values remain visible in pg_db_role_setting and pg_roles when they were set with ALTER DATABASE or ALTER ROLE, so any role that can read those catalogs can recover them.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- Check the installed version of the anon extension (`SELECT extversion FROM pg_extension WHERE extname = 'anon';`); versions before `3.3.0` are affected.
- Look for salt or shift settings stored with ALTER DATABASE or ALTER ROLE by querying `pg_db_role_setting` and `pg_roles`.

## Fix

- Upgrade PostgreSQL Anonymizer to `3.3.0` or later.
- Stop storing the salt through ALTER DATABASE or ALTER ROLE if it can be avoided, or rotate the salt after upgrading.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-28T18:34:32+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-105616

## From the sources

PostgreSQL restricts acces to the salt and shift via the `SHOW` command for users not member of `pg_read_all_settings`. But they are visible in `pg_db_role_setting` or `pg_roles` if they were set on the database, user or both. PostgreSQL Anonymizer's documentation recommends to use ALTER DATABASE / ALTER ROLE for the salt. The problem is resolved in PostgreSQL Anonymizer 3.3.0 and later versions.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_