CVE-2007-3782 in Community Server
Summary
by MITRE
MySQL Community Server before 5.0.45 allows remote authenticated users to gain update privileges for a table in another database via a view that refers to this external table.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-3782 represents a significant privilege escalation flaw within MySQL Community Server versions prior to 5.0.45. This issue stems from improper access control mechanisms that fail to adequately validate database boundaries when processing views that reference external tables. The vulnerability specifically affects authenticated users who can create or modify views, allowing them to craft malicious view definitions that bypass normal database access restrictions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of view definitions within MySQL's metadata system. When a user creates a view that references tables from different databases, the server fails to properly enforce the privilege checks that should prevent cross-database access. This flaw enables an authenticated attacker to construct a view that includes references to tables in other databases, effectively granting update privileges on those external tables without proper authorization. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the database engine level, where view definitions are processed and executed, making it difficult to detect through standard monitoring mechanisms.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a serious security risk for MySQL installations that allow authenticated users to create views. Attackers can leverage this flaw to escalate their privileges from read-only access to full update capabilities across multiple databases, potentially leading to data corruption, unauthorized modifications, and complete database compromise. The vulnerability is especially dangerous in multi-tenant environments or shared hosting scenarios where different users have access to the same MySQL instance but should be isolated from each other's data. The attack vector requires only authenticated access and knowledge of the database structure, making it relatively easy to exploit in environments where users have legitimate access to create views.
The root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems. This weakness manifests in the database server's failure to properly enforce authorization checks when processing view definitions that reference external database objects. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through legitimate system access. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to MySQL Community Server version 5.0.45 or later, where the privilege checking mechanisms have been enhanced to properly validate cross-database references. Additional protective measures include restricting view creation privileges to trusted administrative users only, implementing strict database access controls, and monitoring for unusual view creation activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper privilege validation in database systems and highlights the need for comprehensive access control mechanisms that properly enforce database boundaries.