STIGQter: STIG Summary: Crunchy Data Postgres 16 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 1 Release: 3 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

PostgreSQL must provide nonprivileged users with error messages that provide information necessary for corrective actions without revealing information that could be exploited by adversaries.

DISA Rule

SV-261908r1000729_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-261908

Group Title

SRG-APP-000266-DB-000162

Rule Version

CD16-00-006000

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-001312 - Generates error messages that provide information necessary for corrective actions without revealing information that could be exploited.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Note: The following instructions use the PGDATA and PGVER environment variables. Refer to APPENDIX-F for instructions on configuring PGDATA and APPENDIX-H for PGVER.

As the database administrator, edit "postgresql.conf":

$ sudo su - postgres
$ vi $PGDATA/postgresql.conf

Change the client_min_messages parameter to be "error":

client_min_messages = error

Reload the server with the new configuration (this just reloads settings currently in memory; it will not cause an interruption):

$ sudo systemctl reload postgresql-${PGVER?}

Check Contents

To check the level of detail for errors exposed to clients, as the DBA (shown here as "postgres"), run the following:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ psql -c "SHOW client_min_messages;"

If client_min_messages is not set to error, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-261908

Documentable

False

Rule Version

CD16-00-006000

Severity Override Guidance

To check the level of detail for errors exposed to clients, as the DBA (shown here as "postgres"), run the following:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ psql -c "SHOW client_min_messages;"

If client_min_messages is not set to error, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5598