CVE-2012-0574 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Server component in Oracle MySQL 5.1.66 and earlier, and 5.5.28 and earlier, allows remote authenticated users to affect availability via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0574 represents a critical availability issue within Oracle MySQL Server components affecting multiple version ranges including 5.1.66 and earlier, as well as 5.5.28 and earlier versions. This unspecified vulnerability resides within the server component of the MySQL database system, which forms the backbone of countless web applications and enterprise systems worldwide. The affected versions demonstrate a security weakness that permits remote authenticated users to compromise system availability, potentially leading to service disruption and denial of access for legitimate users. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors makes this particularly concerning as it suggests multiple potential attack pathways that may not be fully documented or understood at the time of analysis.
The technical flaw manifests as a weakness in the MySQL Server's handling of authenticated connections, where remote attackers who have successfully established valid credentials can exploit this vulnerability to cause system unavailability. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of availability attacks, which target the fundamental principle of system accessibility and reliability. The attack vector requires authentication, meaning that an attacker must first obtain valid credentials or exploit another vulnerability to gain access to the system before they can execute the availability disruption. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the context of privilege escalation and lateral movement patterns commonly observed in cybersecurity threats.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-0574 extends far beyond simple service interruption, as database availability is fundamental to business operations across virtually all organizations. When a MySQL server becomes unavailable due to this vulnerability, it can cascade through dependent applications, causing widespread service degradation or complete system failure. The vulnerability's potential for remote exploitation means that attackers can target systems from anywhere on the network, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with exposed database servers. Organizations relying on MySQL for critical data operations face significant risk of financial loss, operational disruption, and potential compliance violations when such availability threats are present in their infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0574 must prioritize immediate patching and updating of affected MySQL installations to the latest secure versions. Organizations should implement strict access controls and authentication mechanisms to limit the number of valid users who could potentially exploit this vulnerability. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to restrict access to database servers to only trusted sources. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited. Additionally, monitoring systems should be implemented to detect unusual patterns of database access that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers network denial of service attacks, and CWE-1004 which addresses insecure default settings that can lead to availability compromise. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions and maintaining comprehensive incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts effectively.