CVE-2012-0553 in MySQL
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in yaSSL, as used in MySQL 5.1.x before 5.1.68 and 5.5.x before 5.5.28, has unspecified impact and attack vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-1492.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0553 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within yaSSL cryptographic library implementation, which was integrated into MySQL database systems. This vulnerability specifically affected MySQL versions 5.1.x prior to 5.1.68 and 5.5.x prior to 5.5.28, creating a significant security risk that could be exploited by malicious actors to compromise database systems. The flaw stems from improper input validation and memory management within the yaSSL component that handles secure communication protocols, particularly affecting the SSL/TLS encryption implementation used by MySQL for secure database connections.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow vulnerability places it squarely within CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory buffers. This particular implementation flaw occurs during the processing of SSL/TLS handshake operations when the yaSSL library fails to properly validate the length of incoming data structures, particularly certificate data and handshake messages. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes malformed or oversized SSL packets that exceed the allocated buffer space, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious data.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-0553 extends beyond simple data corruption, as it creates multiple attack vectors that could lead to complete system compromise. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on affected MySQL servers, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive database information, modifying or deleting critical data, and establishing persistent backdoors within network infrastructure. The unspecified impact and attack vectors mentioned in the CVE description suggest that the vulnerability could be exploited through various means including remote code execution, privilege escalation, or denial of service conditions that could disrupt database operations. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where MySQL servers often handle critical business data and may be directly exposed to external networks.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the official patches released by Oracle for MySQL versions 5.1.68 and 5.5.28, which address the buffer overflow conditions in the yaSSL implementation. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to limit direct exposure of MySQL servers to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect anomalous SSL handshake patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date cryptographic libraries and implementing comprehensive security testing protocols, particularly for components that handle network communication and encryption. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically tuned to detect patterns associated with buffer overflow exploitation attempts and ensure that all database systems undergo regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in third-party components.