CVE-2002-1923 in MySQL
Summary
by MITRE
The default configuration in MySQL 3.20.32 through 3.23.52, when running on Windows, does not have logging enabled, which could allow remote attackers to conduct activities without detection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1923 represents a critical configuration flaw in MySQL database systems running on Windows platforms. This issue affects versions 3.20.32 through 3.23.52, where the default installation settings fail to enable comprehensive logging mechanisms. The absence of proper logging capabilities creates a significant security gap that adversaries can exploit to perform malicious activities while remaining undetected within the system. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and auditability that are fundamental to secure system administration. The flaw falls under CWE-532, which addresses information exposure through logging mechanisms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1562.006 for credential access through log file manipulation. The default configuration essentially provides attackers with a stealthy environment where they can execute unauthorized operations without leaving traceable evidence in system logs.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the MySQL installation process on Windows systems, where logging features are disabled by default rather than enabled. This configuration choice creates an environment where database activities, including unauthorized access attempts, privilege escalations, and data manipulation operations, remain invisible to system administrators and security monitoring tools. The lack of logging means that even if an attacker successfully compromises the database system, their actions will not be recorded in audit trails, making it extremely difficult to detect intrusion attempts or track malicious behavior. This weakness is particularly dangerous because it operates at the foundational level of system security, affecting the core monitoring capabilities that should be in place to detect and respond to security incidents. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security by design principles where defensive mechanisms are not automatically activated, leaving systems exposed to undetected compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft or unauthorized access. Organizations running affected MySQL versions on Windows platforms face significant risks including prolonged undetected breaches, increased forensic challenges during incident response, and potential compliance violations with security standards such as pci dss, iso 27001, and soc 2. The absence of logging makes it nearly impossible to establish security baselines or detect anomalous database behavior that might indicate a security incident. Attackers can perform reconnaissance, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation activities without triggering any alerts or generating audit records. This vulnerability essentially undermines the integrity of the security monitoring infrastructure, as the very tools designed to detect malicious activity are rendered ineffective due to the default configuration. The impact is particularly severe in regulated environments where audit trails are mandatory for compliance purposes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1923 require immediate configuration changes to enable comprehensive logging mechanisms within the MySQL database system. System administrators must manually enable logging features, configure appropriate log levels, and ensure that log files are properly secured and regularly monitored. The recommended approach involves activating MySQL's general query log and error log functionality, which should be configured to capture all database activities including connection attempts, query executions, and privilege changes. Organizations should implement log rotation policies to prevent log file overflow while maintaining sufficient historical data for security analysis. Additionally, security teams should establish automated monitoring solutions that can analyze log data for suspicious activities and generate alerts when unusual patterns are detected. Regular security assessments should verify that logging configurations remain properly enabled and that log files are not being tampered with or deleted. The implementation of centralized logging solutions and security information and event management systems can further enhance detection capabilities and provide comprehensive visibility into database activities across the enterprise infrastructure.