CVE-2010-1848 in MySQL
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in MySQL 5.0 through 5.0.91 and 5.1 before 5.1.47 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended table grants to read field definitions of arbitrary tables, and on 5.1 to read or delete content of arbitrary tables, via a .. (dot dot) in a table name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1848 represents a critical directory traversal flaw affecting MySQL database servers across multiple versions including 5.0.91 and 5.1.46. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the database engine's table name processing functionality. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system fails to properly sanitize table names containing directory traversal sequences such as .. (dot dot) characters, allowing unauthorized access to database resources beyond the intended scope.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through authenticated user sessions where attackers can manipulate table names to traverse file system directories. In MySQL versions 5.0.0 through 5.0.91 and 5.1.0 through 5.1.46, this flaw enables attackers to bypass normal table access controls and read field definitions from arbitrary tables. The impact escalates significantly in the 5.1.x series where attackers can not only read field information but also execute destructive operations including reading or deleting content from any table within the database system. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the database's access control mechanisms that violates core security principles of least privilege and proper resource isolation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates severe implications for database security and data integrity. The ability to bypass table grants means that authenticated users with minimal privileges can potentially access sensitive data from tables they should not be authorized to view. The directory traversal capability allows attackers to navigate beyond the intended database boundaries, potentially accessing system files or other databases hosted on the same server. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of database resources, making it particularly dangerous in multi-tenant environments or systems handling sensitive information such as personal data, financial records, or proprietary business information.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 directory traversal weakness and represents a classic example of insufficient input validation that enables path traversal attacks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and data access manipulation, specifically targeting the database access controls and file system interaction capabilities. Organizations running affected MySQL versions face significant risk of unauthorized data access and potential data corruption or deletion. The attack vector requires only authenticated access, making it particularly concerning as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised user accounts. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of broader database security assessments and implement immediate patching strategies to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access to database resources.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of official MySQL security patches for the affected versions, implementation of network segmentation to limit database access, and enhanced monitoring of database access patterns for suspicious directory traversal attempts. Database administrators should also review and tighten table access controls, implement proper user privilege management, and consider additional security layers such as database firewalls or intrusion detection systems specifically configured to detect and prevent directory traversal attempts in database environments. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in database configurations and access controls.