CVE-2012-0116 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the MySQL Server component in Oracle MySQL 5.1.x and 5.5.x allows remote authenticated users to affect confidentiality and integrity via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0116 represents a significant security weakness within Oracle MySQL Server versions 5.1.x and 5.5.x that affects both confidentiality and integrity of data systems. This unspecified vulnerability exists within the MySQL Server component and can be exploited by remote authenticated users, meaning that individuals who have already established valid credentials within the system can leverage this weakness to compromise data integrity and confidentiality. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed or potentially varies across different deployment scenarios, making it particularly challenging for administrators to assess and mitigate the risk effectively. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of internal threats where the attacker has legitimate access to the system but seeks to escalate their privileges or exploit additional weaknesses within the database infrastructure.
The technical flaw associated with CVE-2012-0116 stems from inadequate security controls within the MySQL Server implementation that allow authenticated users to manipulate or access data in ways that violate the principle of least privilege. The vulnerability impacts the fundamental security properties of data protection, where confidentiality is compromised through unauthorized data exposure and integrity is undermined through potential data modification or corruption. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability represents a critical weakness that could enable attackers to perform data manipulation attacks, information disclosure, or potentially establish persistent access within the database environment. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it affects widely deployed versions of MySQL, making numerous enterprise and organizational systems potentially vulnerable to exploitation. This vulnerability type aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and may also relate to CWE-310, concerning cryptographic issues, depending on the specific attack vectors that were exploited.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-0116 extends beyond simple data compromise, as it can lead to complete system infiltration and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Organizations running affected MySQL versions face significant risks including data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential financial losses due to compromised data integrity. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to systems, enabling attacks from anywhere on the network. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where database systems are often accessible over network connections. The potential for data modification attacks can result in financial fraud, identity theft, or other malicious activities that can severely impact organizational operations and reputation. Security professionals must consider that this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of broader attack campaigns, where initial access through legitimate user credentials provides a foothold for more extensive infiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0116 should focus on immediate patch management and comprehensive security hardening of MySQL installations. Organizations must prioritize updating to patched versions of MySQL Server as soon as possible, as Oracle would have released specific patches to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the scope of potential exploitation, ensuring that even if an attacker gains authenticated access, they cannot easily escalate privileges or access sensitive data. Regular security audits and monitoring of database activities should be conducted to detect any anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced, limiting user permissions to only necessary database operations and reducing the potential impact of compromised accounts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing database activity monitoring tools and intrusion detection systems to provide visibility into potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and the necessity of regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate potential security weaknesses in database infrastructure. The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability may align with techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under database access and privilege escalation categories, emphasizing the need for comprehensive defensive strategies.