If an interactive psql session used \gset when querying a compromised
server, the attacker could execute arbitrary code as the operating
system account running psql. Using a prefix not found among specially
treated variables, e.g. every lowercase string, precluded the attack.
Fix by issuing a warning and setting no variable for the column in
question. Users wanting the old behavior can use a prefix and then a
meta-command like "\set HISTSIZE :prefix_HISTSIZE". Back-patch to 9.5
(all supported versions).
Reviewed by Robert Haas. Reported by Nick Cleaton.
Security: CVE-2020-25696
12fd81cb7f