---
id: "CVE-2026-116322"
page: "https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-116322"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-116322"]
title: "PostgreSQL: startup locking flaw lets an unauthenticated client restart the server"
severity: "medium"
cvss: 5.3
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "runtime"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["database", "postgresql", "runtime", "self-hosted"]
not_affected_if: ["local-only-access", "pre-18-major-version"]
published_at: "2026-11-12T15:17:40+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-12T15:41:54+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-12T15:43:56+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-116322", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-12T15:41:54+00:00"}]
exploit_sources: []
---

# PostgreSQL: startup locking flaw lets an unauthenticated client restart the server

Link for people: https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-116322 (this .md is for agents)

A race in PostgreSQL's startup handling, where authentication_timeout fires while a spinlock is held during cancel handling, can crash the server. An unauthenticated network client can trigger it by arranging the timing, forcing a server restart.

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

## How to check

- Run `SELECT version();` in psql and confirm the server is major version 18 with a minor version below `18.7`
- Check the running server version with `postgres --version`

## Fix

- PostgreSQL 18 minor versions before `18.7`: move to `18.7` or later
- Versions before PostgreSQL 18 are unaffected

## Timeline

- 2026-11-12T15:41:54+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-116322

## From the sources

Improper locking in PostgreSQL startup processing allows an unauthenticated network client to trigger a server restart, via arranging for authentication_timeout to arrive while it holds a spinlock during cancel handling.  Within major version 18, minor versions before PostgreSQL 18.7 are affected.  Versions before PostgreSQL 18 are unaffected.

---

_Free to read, with fair use of about 60 pages a minute. For higher limits or API access: sales@infrastack.ai_