backup and permissions - Mailing list pgsql-general

From Fernando Moreno
Subject backup and permissions
Date
Msg-id b1c45530811131630u254ca21bv1468b07403626b9e@mail.gmail.com
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Responses Re: backup and permissions
List pgsql-general
Hi, I'm working on a little backup utility for a desktop application. It's going to execute pg_dumpall (-r) and pg_dump, but first I have to deal with the permissions needed to do that:

1. Users (pgsql roles) enabled to backup would be superusers all the time. This sounds insecure.

2. Users will get superuser access through a security definer function just before the backup, then they'll be nosuperuser again. An interrupted backup process would be dangerous, but I could check whether or not this clause is enabled, every time a user connects. Still risky.

3. Users will just be able to read every object in the database, and pg_authid. I've done some tests and this seems enough.

I need some advice to choose the better/safer option, what would you do?

Thanks in advance.

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