CVE-2012-3163 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the MySQL Server component in Oracle MySQL 5.1.64 and earlier, and 5.5.26 and earlier, allows remote authenticated users to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors related to Information Schema.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3163 resides within the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL versions 5.1.64 and earlier, as well as 5.5.26 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that impacts database server operations. This issue specifically relates to the Information Schema functionality within MySQL, which serves as a metadata repository that provides access to database information including table structures, user permissions, and schema definitions. The vulnerability affects authenticated remote users who can leverage this flaw to compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected MySQL server instances, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where database security is paramount.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and sanitization mechanisms within the Information Schema implementation. When authenticated users access certain Information Schema tables or views, the system fails to properly validate input parameters or enforce appropriate access controls, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited to manipulate database metadata. This flaw typically manifests when users with legitimate database access attempt to query specific Information Schema components that do not adequately protect against malicious input or unauthorized access patterns. The unspecified nature of the exact attack vectors suggests that multiple pathways exist within the Information Schema subsystem that could be leveraged by attackers with valid credentials.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to database security and integrity. Attackers who can authenticate to the MySQL server can potentially extract sensitive information about database structures, user permissions, and system configurations through the compromised Information Schema access. The confidentiality aspect of this vulnerability allows for data leakage that could expose critical system information, while the integrity component suggests that attackers might be able to modify database metadata or manipulate system behavior through crafted queries. The availability impact indicates that malicious actors could potentially disrupt database operations or cause system instability through carefully constructed Information Schema queries that exploit the underlying implementation flaw.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with common weakness categories such as CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation," and CWE-22, which deals with "Path Traversal," as the Information Schema access controls may not properly validate user inputs or restrict access paths. The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability could map to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the "Credential Access" and "Defense Evasion" domains, where attackers leverage legitimate access to extract sensitive information or manipulate system behavior without detection. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Oracle, reviewing and restricting Information Schema access permissions, and implementing network segmentation to limit exposure of database servers to untrusted networks. Additionally, monitoring for unusual Information Schema access patterns and implementing comprehensive database activity monitoring can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date database software and implementing proper access control measures even for authenticated users, as the attack surface extends beyond simple authentication to include metadata manipulation capabilities that can severely impact overall system security posture.