# CVE-2026-32286: Jackc pgproto3 denial of service in DataRow.Decode

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-32286-jackc-pgproto3-denial-of-service-in-datarow-decode  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-03-26. Updated: 2026-06-03  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-32286 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.5 · Published 2026-03-26

A vulnerability exists in a Go library used to communicate with PostgreSQL databases. A malicious or compromised database server can send a specially crafted message that causes the application using this library to crash immediately. This results in a denial-of-service, potentially disrupting business operations and application availability.

Technologies: [github.com/jackc/pgproto3/v2 (Go)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/github-com-jackc-pgproto3-v2). Vendors: [Go](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/go), [Jack Christensen](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/jack-christensen).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-32286 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-32286 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-32286?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 26 March 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** github.com/jackc/pgproto3/v2 (Go) SEMVER:introduced=2.0.0, SEMVER:introduced=2.0.0,last_affected=2.3.3; Jack Christensen Pgproto3 >= 2.0.0, <= 2.3.3.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-32286?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-32286 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-32286?** Check whether you run github.com/jackc/pgproto3/v2 (Go) or Jack Christensen Pgproto3 at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

The vulnerability exists in the DataRow.Decode function of the github.com/jackc/pgproto3/v2 package. The function reads a field length as a signed 32-bit integer but fails to check for negative values other than the -1 null sentinel. Because Go's len() function always returns a non-negative value, a comparison check (len(src[rp:]) < msgSize) is bypassed when msgSize is negative. This leads to a 'slice bounds out of range' panic when the code attempts to slice the buffer using the negative index. An attacker controlling a PostgreSQL server can exploit this to cause a remote denial-of-service (DoS) against any Go client application using this library.

## Affected products

- jackc pgproto3/v2 >= 2.0.0, <= 2.3.3

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-32286
- GHSA-jqcq-xjh3-6g23
- GO-2026-4518

## Timeline

- 2026-02-19: disclosed: Issue reported on GitHub and Go vulnerability database
- 2026-03-18: advisory: GitHub Advisory GHSA-jqcq-xjh3-6g23 published
- 2026-03-26: advisory: NVD published CVE-2026-32286

## References

- [https://github.com/golang/vulndb/issues/4518](https://github.com/golang/vulndb/issues/4518)
- [https://github.com/jackc/pgx/issues/2507](https://github.com/jackc/pgx/issues/2507)
- [https://pkg.go.dev/vuln/GO-2026-4518](https://pkg.go.dev/vuln/GO-2026-4518)
- [https://securityinfinity.com/research/memory-safety-vulnerabilities-in-go-postgresql-wire-protocol-parsers-pgproto3-pgx](https://securityinfinity.com/research/memory-safety-vulnerabilities-in-go-postgresql-wire-protocol-parsers-pgproto3-pgx)

## Related threats

- [Jackc pgx memory-safety vulnerability in pgproto3](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-33815-jackc-pgx-memory-safety-vulnerability-in-pgproto3)
- [Duplicate Advisory: pgproto3: Negative field length panics in DataRow.Decode](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-4427-duplicate-advisory-pgproto3-negative-field-length-panics-in)
- [GO-2024-2606 - SQL injection in github.com/jackc/pgproto3 and github.com/jackc/pgx](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-27304-pgproto3-sql-injection-via-protocol-message-size-overflow)