CVE-2010-3840 in MySQL
Summary
by MITRE
The Gis_line_string::init_from_wkb function in sql/spatial.cc in MySQL 5.1 before 5.1.51 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (server crash) by calling the PolyFromWKB function with Well-Known Binary (WKB) data containing a crafted number of (1) line strings or (2) line points.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3840 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the MySQL database management system affecting versions prior to 5.1.51. This issue resides in the Gis_line_string::init_from_wkb function located in the sql/spatial.cc file, which handles the initialization of geometric line string objects from Well-Known Binary formatted data. The vulnerability specifically impacts the PolyFromWKB function when processing crafted WKB data containing maliciously constructed line strings or line points. This flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-129 Input Validation and CWE-400 Uncontrolled Resource Consumption, as the function fails to properly validate input parameters before processing them, leading to resource exhaustion and subsequent server instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated user to execute a carefully crafted PolyFromWKB function call with malformed WKB data containing specifically constructed line string or line point elements. When the MySQL server processes this malformed input, the Gis_line_string::init_from_wkb function attempts to parse and initialize geometric objects without adequate bounds checking or validation. This leads to memory corruption or stack overflow conditions that cause the MySQL server process to crash and terminate unexpectedly. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of database query processing and spatial data handling, leveraging the server's spatial extension capabilities to create a denial of service condition that affects the availability of database services.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-3840 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader security implications for database environments. Organizations utilizing affected MySQL versions face potential risks including unauthorized service interruption, data access delays, and potential exploitation for more sophisticated attacks within the database infrastructure. The vulnerability affects any system running MySQL 5.1 versions before 5.1.51 that implements spatial data functionality, making it particularly concerning for applications relying on geographic information systems or spatial database features. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service and demonstrates the importance of input validation in database server components that handle external data formats.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate patching of MySQL installations to version 5.1.51 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the input validation issues in the spatial data processing functions. Additionally, administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the number of authenticated users who can execute spatial functions within the database. Database administrators should also consider disabling unnecessary spatial functions or implementing strict input validation at the application layer before data reaches the database engine. Monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in spatial function usage that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their database environments to identify any other potentially affected systems running older MySQL versions that may be exposed to similar spatial processing vulnerabilities.