CVE-2012-0485 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-2012-0120, and CVE-2012-0492.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0485 represents a significant availability threat within Oracle MySQL Server versions 5.1.x and 5.5.x, affecting remote authenticated users who can exploit unspecified vectors to disrupt service availability. This vulnerability operates within the MySQL Server component and differs from several other contemporaneous vulnerabilities including CVE-2012-0112, CVE-2012-0115, CVE-2012-0119, CVE-2012-0120, and CVE-2012-0492, indicating a distinct attack surface that requires specific remediation approaches. The classification of this vulnerability as affecting availability rather than confidentiality or integrity suggests it primarily targets system stability and service delivery rather than data compromise. This particular weakness falls under the broader category of denial of service vulnerabilities, which can be categorized under CWE-400 as "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" or CWE-1333 as "Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions" depending on the specific exploitation mechanism. The vulnerability's designation as affecting "unknown vectors" indicates that the precise technical mechanisms remain unspecified in the initial CVE description, which is common with vulnerabilities that require further analysis to fully understand their exploitation pathways. The fact that this affects authenticated users suggests that attackers must first establish valid credentials or access to the system, reducing the attack surface compared to unauthenticated threats but still representing a serious risk to system availability.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-0485 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise business continuity and data availability for organizations relying on MySQL databases. When exploited, this vulnerability can cause MySQL Server processes to become unresponsive or crash, leading to extended periods of service unavailability that can affect applications dependent on database connectivity. The remote nature of the attack means that systems can be compromised from external networks without requiring physical access or local privileges, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible database servers. Organizations utilizing MySQL Server versions 5.1.x and 5.5.x face potential downtime that can range from minutes to hours depending on the specific exploitation method and system recovery procedures. The vulnerability's relationship to the broader MySQL ecosystem means that any application or service relying on database connectivity could experience cascading failures, potentially affecting multiple system components and services. The distinction from other vulnerabilities in the same timeframe indicates that this represents a unique code path or logic flaw within the MySQL Server implementation that requires targeted patches or workarounds rather than general security hardening measures. This type of vulnerability can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 as "Endpoint Denial of Service" or T1566.001 as "Phishing" if exploited through social engineering to obtain authentication credentials, though the primary vector appears to be direct server exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0485 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Oracle, as this represents a critical availability threat that can be exploited by authenticated attackers to cause service disruption. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures that include thorough testing of patches in non-production environments before deployment to ensure compatibility with existing applications and systems. The vulnerability's impact on availability makes it particularly important to maintain redundant database systems or failover mechanisms that can maintain service continuity during patching operations. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the number of authenticated users with access to database servers, reducing the potential attack surface. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual database server behavior or process termination patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing database connection pooling and load balancing mechanisms that can help maintain service availability even when individual database processes are affected. The vulnerability's specific nature as an availability threat means that traditional security controls like firewalls or intrusion detection systems may not prevent exploitation, requiring more comprehensive approaches including application-level monitoring and database-specific security controls. Organizations should also implement regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by attackers, particularly focusing on database server configurations and access controls. The remediation process should include thorough validation that patches have been successfully applied and that no residual vulnerabilities remain in the database server configuration or associated applications.