CVE-2026-8838: amazon-redshift-python-driver vulnerable to Remote Code Execution via eval() Injection

Should you act?

Critical and remotely reachable

No known exploitation yet, but it is network-reachable without credentials. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.

• No confirmed exploitation. It is not in CISA’s KEV catalog and CISA’s SSVC assessment records no known exploitation. That can change quickly after a public write-up; re-check if you are affected.
• EPSS 0.8%, percentile 56: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.8% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 56% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
• Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
• Only applies if your dependency tree includes redshift-connector (PyPI) <= 2.1.13, fixed in 2.1.14. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

What it is

Unsafe use of Python's eval() on server-received data in the vectorin() function in amazon-redshift-python-driver before 2.1.14 allows a rogue server or man-in-the-middle actor to execute arbitrary code on the client. To remediate this issue, users should upgrade to version 2.1.14.

From the GitHub advisory

Summary amazon-redshift-python-driver is the official Python connector for Amazon Redshift. In versions 2.1.13 and earlier, the driver insufficiently validates data received from the server during query result processing. A rogue server or man-in-the-middle could leverage this to execute arbitrary code on the client.

Impact When a client connects to a rogue server implementing the PostgreSQL wire protocol, the server can send specially crafted query responses that the driver processes without adequate input validation. This could result in arbitrary code execution in the client process, potentially enabling command execution, file system access, or credential theft with the privileges of the client application.

Impacted versions:

Patches This has been addressed in amazon-redshift-python-driver version 2.1.14 (https://github.com/aws/amazon-redshift-python-driver/releases/tag/v2.1.14). Amazon Redshift recommends upgrading to the latest version and ensuring any forked or derivative code is patched to incorporate the new fixes.

References If there are any questions or comments about this advisory, contact AWS Security via the issue reporting page or directly via email to aws-security@amazon.com. Please do not create a public GitHub issue.

Weakness type: CWE-94.

Product: redshift-connector (PyPI) · Assigned by: AMZN · Published: 2026-05-18

Affected and fixed versions

Severity scores

• Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
• Attack complexity: low
• Attack requirements: none
• Privileges required: none (no login)
• User interaction: none

CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.

Exploitation and urgency

• CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
• CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, automatable yes, technical impact total.
• FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 0.80% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 56.

Timeline

• 2026-05-18 — CVE record published by AMZN
• 2026-05-19 — CVE record last updated
• 2026-05-29 — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-29h4-r29x-hchv published (critical)

Sources and references

Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.

Vendor and project advisories, patches

1. github.com github.com
2. aws.amazon.com aws.amazon.com

Vulnerability records

1. GitHub Advisory GHSA-29h4-r29x-hchv github.com
2. CVE.org record CVE-2026-8838 cve.org
3. NVD entry CVE-2026-8838 nvd.nist.gov

Other references from the CVE record and advisory

1. github.com github.com
2. github.com github.com

Critical PyPI advisories · Today’s Security Digest