CVE-2012-0120 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 availability via unknown vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2012-0112, CVE-2012-0115, CVE-2012-0119, CVE-2012-0485, and CVE-2012-0492.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0120 represents a significant security flaw within Oracle MySQL Server versions 5.1.x and 5.5.x that specifically targets the availability aspect of the database system. This issue falls under the broader category of denial of service vulnerabilities, where authenticated remote attackers can exploit specific conditions to disrupt service availability without necessarily compromising data integrity or confidentiality. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical mechanism remained undisclosed at the time of the initial report, making it particularly concerning for security professionals who must defend against unknown attack vectors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests through unknown vectors that allow remote authenticated users to impact system availability, distinguishing it from several other related vulnerabilities including CVE-2012-0112, CVE-2012-0115, CVE-2012-0119, CVE-2012-0485, and CVE-2012-0492. This separation indicates that while multiple vulnerabilities existed within the same timeframe and affected similar components, CVE-2012-0120 operates through a distinct exploitation method or system weakness. The fact that it requires authentication suggests that the vulnerability likely involves privilege escalation or abuse of legitimate administrative functions, potentially through crafted database queries or connection parameters that trigger unexpected behavior in the server's processing logic.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk to database availability and system reliability for organizations running affected MySQL versions. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this weakness from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or direct system compromise. This characteristic aligns with the attack pattern described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the "Denial of Service" tactic, where attackers target system resources to prevent legitimate users from accessing services. The vulnerability's potential to affect availability could result in extended downtime, data access interruptions, and cascading effects on dependent applications and services that rely on the database infrastructure.
Security practitioners should recognize that this vulnerability represents a critical concern for organizations maintaining MySQL Server environments, particularly those operating in production environments where database availability is paramount. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability means that traditional signature-based detection methods may be ineffective, requiring organizations to implement broader monitoring strategies and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds. This type of vulnerability often requires careful patch management processes and may necessitate temporary mitigation measures such as network segmentation or access controls to limit the attack surface. The vulnerability's classification within CWE categories related to availability issues and resource management underscores the importance of robust input validation and proper error handling mechanisms within database server implementations. Organizations should prioritize updating to patched versions of MySQL Server and implementing comprehensive monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, while also considering the broader security implications of having authenticated users with the ability to trigger system instability through legitimate database operations.