CVE-2001-1225 in mSQL
Summary
by MITRE
Hughes Technology Mini SQL 2.0.10 through 2.0.12 allows local users to cause a denial of service by creating a very large array in a table, which causes miniSQL to crash when the table is queried.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1225 affects Hughes Technology Mini SQL versions 2.0.10 through 2.0.12, representing a critical denial of service weakness that exploits memory management flaws within the database system. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of large data structures within table definitions, creating a scenario where legitimate database operations can be disrupted through malicious data manipulation. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and memory allocation handling when processing oversized array structures within database tables, fundamentally undermining the system's stability and availability.
The technical flaw manifests when local users construct tables containing extremely large arrays, typically exceeding normal memory allocation boundaries that the miniSQL engine was designed to handle. When subsequent queries attempt to access these malformed tables, the database engine encounters memory overflow conditions or buffer overflows during data retrieval operations. This occurs because the system fails to implement proper bounds checking or memory size validation before processing array data structures, allowing malicious or malformed input to trigger system crashes. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of improper input validation and memory management, creating a condition where resource exhaustion leads to complete system termination.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems relying on miniSQL for data storage and retrieval operations. Local users with access to the database environment can deliberately exploit this weakness to disrupt database services, potentially affecting critical business operations that depend on data availability. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as the denial of service can affect multiple concurrent users or applications that depend on the database, creating cascading failures within larger system architectures. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges to exploit, as local access is sufficient to create the malicious table structure, making it accessible to users with basic database permissions.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-122, which addresses improper restriction of operations within a limited access scope, and CWE-125, concerning out-of-bounds read conditions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1566.001, covering spearphishing via social engineering. The attack vector leverages the principle of least privilege violation by allowing local users to escalate their impact through memory manipulation techniques. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of miniSQL, implementing strict data validation controls, and monitoring for unusual table creation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize the immediate deployment of official patches provided by Hughes Technology, as these releases contain the necessary memory allocation safeguards and input validation improvements. System administrators should also implement database access controls to limit local user privileges and establish monitoring protocols for detecting abnormal table creation activities. Additional protective measures include implementing resource limits on database operations, configuring automatic failover mechanisms, and establishing incident response procedures specifically addressing denial of service scenarios. The vulnerability underscores the importance of robust input validation and memory management practices in database systems, particularly in legacy software environments where security updates may be infrequent or unavailable.