CVE-2010-1849 in MySQL
Summary
by MITRE
The my_net_skip_rest function in sql/net_serv.cc in MySQL 5.0 through 5.0.91 and 5.1 before 5.1.47 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU and bandwidth consumption) by sending a large number of packets that exceed the maximum length.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1849 represents a significant denial of service weakness in MySQL database management systems affecting versions 5.0 through 5.0.91 and 5.1 before 5.1.47. This flaw resides within the my_net_skip_rest function located in the sql/net_serv.cc source file, which handles network packet processing for database connections. The vulnerability specifically targets the network layer's packet handling mechanism where the system fails to properly validate packet lengths during connection establishment and data transmission phases.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers send maliciously crafted network packets that exceed the maximum allowed packet length thresholds. The my_net_skip_rest function processes these oversized packets without adequate bounds checking, causing the MySQL server to consume excessive CPU cycles and network bandwidth resources. This processing behavior creates a resource exhaustion condition where legitimate database operations become severely degraded or completely halted due to the server's inability to handle normal traffic while processing the malformed packets.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to perform distributed denial of service attacks against MySQL servers by consuming available system resources through relatively simple network packet flooding techniques. The affected systems experience significant performance degradation or complete service unavailability, which can result in substantial business disruption for organizations relying on database availability. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it affects multiple minor versions of MySQL 5.0 and 5.1 series, indicating a widespread exposure across various production environments.
The flaw aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of length of input data, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with attack patterns categorized under the ATT&CK framework's resource exhaustion techniques. Organizations utilizing affected MySQL versions face increased risk of service disruption and potential data access denial, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in production environments where database availability is critical. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed remotely, amplifying its threat potential.
Security mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch application to upgrade to MySQL versions 5.0.92, 5.1.47, or later, which contain the necessary code modifications to properly validate packet lengths. Network administrators should also implement rate limiting and packet filtering mechanisms at network boundaries to reduce the impact of potential attacks. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that all MySQL installations are properly updated and configured according to security best practices.