PostgreSQL CREATE TABLE creates with incorrect owner

permissionspostgresqlpostgresql-9.2

I'm using PostgreSQL 9.2.4. When I create a table as a non-superuser in a database owned by that non-superuser, it is owned by the postgres user, so I can't put any data into it unless I explicitly grant myself permission.

I created the non-superuser like this:

admin_user=# create role "test1" NOINHERIT LOGIN ENCRYPTED PASSWORD 'wibble' CONNECTION LIMIT 10;

Then I created a database owned by test1 like this:

admin_user=# create database "test1$db1" with owner "test1";

Then I started a new psql as user test1, and created a table:

test1$db1=> create table test_table (column_name varchar(50));

But I couldn't insert into it:

test1$db1=> insert into test_table values ('some data');                                                                                                    
ERROR:  permission denied for relation test_table

Checking the permissions shows that the table is owned by the postgres user:

test1$db1=> \dt
             List of relations
 Schema |      Name      | Type  |  Owner   
--------+----------------+-------+----------
 public | test_table     | table | postgres

However, I can grant myself permissions and do stuff:

test1$db1=> grant insert, select on test_table to test1;                                                                                                    
GRANT
test1$db1=> insert into test_table values ('some data'); 
INSERT 0 1
test1$db1=> select * from test_table;
 column_name 
-------------
 some data
(1 row)

What's going on? I'm pretty sure this used to work. And the PostgreSQL docs for CREATE TABLE say

CREATE TABLE will create a new, initially empty table in the current
database. The table will be owned by the user issuing the command.

Having to grant permissions to myself on my own tables doesn't sound like it's what I should have to do.

Any help much appreciated!

[UPDATE]

It looks like this might be caused by some kind of change to the PostgreSQL package at http://apt.postgresql.org/pub/repos/apt/

We have three machine images, all of which installed PostgreSQL from that source:

  • Install at 23 July 2013, 18:47 UTC — correct table ownership
  • Install at 23 July 2013, 19:39 UTC — correct table ownership
  • Install at 24 July 2013, 13:16 UTC — error

So perhaps something has been changed in the packaging. I'll drop a line to the mailing list for that.

Best Answer

That the owner of your new table turns out to be postgres is very odd.

Either way, you can make Postgres grant or revoke any privileges to / from any role by default with ALTER DEFAULT PRIVILEGES:

ALTER DEFAULT PRIVILEGES IN SCHEMA public
GRANT INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE ON TABLES TO test1;
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