CVE-2026-6478: Software Security Vulnerability Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-r6v6-v5r9-3ggh
Share
CVSS 6.5
CWE-385
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-6478 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.5) security vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-385: Covert Timing Channel) affecting Software libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The weakness occurs when covert timing channels convey information by modulating some aspect of system behavior over time, so that the program receiving the information can observe system behavior and infer protected information.. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2026-6478 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-6478
GHSA Identifier GHSA-r6v6-v5r9-3ggh
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.5
CWE Classification CWE-385: Covert Timing Channel
Affected Product Software
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2026-6478

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Software dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-6478, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Software in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-385: Covert Timing Channel, where covert timing channels convey information by modulating some aspect of system behavior over time, so that the program receiving the information can observe system behavior and infer protected information. In Software, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Covert timing channel in comparison of MD5-hashed password in PostgreSQL authentication allows an attacker to recover user credentials sufficient to authenticate. This does not affect scram-sha-256 passwords, the default in all supported releases. However, current databases may have MD5-hashed passwords originating in upgrades from PostgreSQL 13 or earlier. Versions before PostgreSQL 18.4, 17.10, 16.14, 15.18, and 14.23 are affected.

References

NVD — CVE-2026-6478 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-6478
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:21... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:21182
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:29... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:29953
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:32... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:32983
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:32... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:32994
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:33... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:33441
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:33... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:33497
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:34... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:34043
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:34... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:34362
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:34... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:34363
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:35... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:35880
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:42... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:42555
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:44... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:44420
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:44... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:44481
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:49... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:49521
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:58... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:58981
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-6478
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2477447
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-6478.json
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://www.postgresql.org/support/security/CVE-2026-6478
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:22... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:22878
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:26... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26181
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:26... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26203
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:26... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26204
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:26... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26524
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:26... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26525
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:26... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26561
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:27... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:27718
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:27... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:27738
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:27... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:27741
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:27... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:27742
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:27... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:27743
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:28... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:28037
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:28... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:28143
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:28... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:28208
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:28... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:28999
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:29... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:29212
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:29... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:29815
access.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2026:29... WEB
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:29904

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-6478?
CVE-2026-6478 is a security vulnerability in Software classified as a security vulnerability vulnerability under CWE-385: Covert Timing Channel.
Which Software versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches.
What version fixes CVE-2026-6478?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-6478?
CVE-2026-6478 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-6478?
CVE-2026-6478 is classified under CWE-385: Covert Timing Channel (Covert timing channels convey information by modulating some aspect of system behavior over time, so that the program receiving the information can observe system behavior and infer protected information.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-6478?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-r6v6-v5r9-3ggh",
  "modified" : "2026-08-25T15:32:24Z",
  "published" : "2026-05-14T15:31:58Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-6478" ],
  "details" : "Covert timing channel in comparison of MD5-hashed password in PostgreSQL authentication allows an attacker to recover user credentials sufficient to authenticate.  This does not affect scram-sha-256 passwords, the default in all supported releases.  However, current databases may have MD5-hashed passwords originating in upgrades from PostgreSQL 13 or earlier.  Versions before PostgreSQL 18.4, 17.10, 16.14, 15.18, and 14.23 are affected.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-6478"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:21182"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:29953"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:32983"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:32994"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:33441"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:33497"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:34043"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:34362"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:34363"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:35880"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:42555"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:44420"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:44481"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:49521"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:58981"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-6478"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2477447"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-6478.json"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.postgresql.org/support/security/CVE-2026-6478"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:22878"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26181"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26203"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26204"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26524"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26525"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26561"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:27718"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:27738"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:27741"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:27742"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:27743"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:28037"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:28143"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:28208"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:28999"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:29212"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:29815"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:29904"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-385" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : false,
    "github_reviewed_at" : null,
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-05-14T14:16:25Z"
  }
}