Re: Support a`--with-copy-program` compile flag

Andres Freund <andres@anarazel.de>

From: Andres Freund <andres@anarazel.de>
To: Steve Chavez <steve@supabase.io>
Cc: PostgreSQL-development <pgsql-hackers@postgresql.org>
Date: 2025-11-12T18:37:40Z
Lists: pgsql-hackers
Hi,

On 2025-11-12 13:07:27 -0500, Steve Chavez wrote:
> Postgres provides the `COPY .. TO/FROM PROGRAM` statement. This is
> dangerous from a security perspective because it allows users to escape
> from the SQL sandbox and gain shell access on the instance.
> 
> Now there's the `pg_execute_server_program` predefined role to restrict
> access to `COPY.. TO/FROM PROGRAM` but if somehow a pg user gains superuser
> privileges then the predefined role is of no use.
> 
> So I wonder if we could remove the possibility of shell access by providing
> a `--with-copy-program` compile flag.

If a user has superuser, the game is already lost. There are *dozens* of ways
to execute arbitrary code at that point.

Greetings,

Andres Freund