CVE-2013-0375 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Server component in Oracle MySQL 5.1.66 and earlier, and 5.1.28 and earlier, allows remote authenticated users to affect confidentiality and integrity via unknown vectors related to Server Replication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0375 resides within the Server component of Oracle MySQL database systems, specifically affecting versions 5.1.66 and earlier, as well as 5.1.28 and earlier. This represents a significant security weakness that impacts the fundamental data integrity and confidentiality mechanisms of the database server. The vulnerability is classified as remote and authenticated, meaning that an attacker must possess valid credentials to exploit the flaw, but once accessed, the vulnerability can be leveraged from remote locations without requiring physical access to the system. The unspecified nature of the exact vector makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as security teams cannot immediately determine the precise attack surface or develop targeted defenses without deeper analysis of the underlying implementation details.
The technical flaw manifests within the Server Replication functionality of MySQL, which is a critical component for database synchronization and high availability configurations. Replication in MySQL involves the process where data changes on a master server are propagated to one or more slave servers, creating a distributed database architecture. When this replication mechanism contains a vulnerability that allows authenticated users to compromise confidentiality and integrity, it creates a serious risk for database environments that rely on replication for disaster recovery, load balancing, or geographic distribution. The vulnerability could potentially enable an attacker to manipulate replication data streams, corrupt database contents, or extract sensitive information from the replication process. This represents a direct violation of the CIA triad principles, where confidentiality is compromised through unauthorized data access and integrity is undermined through data modification or corruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-0375 extends beyond simple data compromise, as it can severely disrupt database operations and compromise the entire replication topology. Organizations utilizing MySQL replication for business-critical applications face potential data inconsistencies, service disruptions, and increased risk of data breaches when this vulnerability is exploited. The authenticated nature of the attack means that insider threats or compromised legitimate accounts pose a significant risk, as the attacker only needs valid credentials rather than breaking into the system through other means. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where replication is used for backup purposes, as corrupted replication data could lead to complete data loss or the propagation of malicious data changes across multiple database instances. The impact is compounded in enterprise environments where replication is used for geographic distribution, as a single compromised authenticated user could potentially affect databases across multiple locations.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigation strategies including upgrading to patched versions of MySQL, which were released to address this vulnerability. The remediation process should involve comprehensive testing of replication configurations before applying patches to ensure that the upgrade does not disrupt existing database operations. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit the number of authenticated users with replication privileges, following the principle of least privilege. Additionally, monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual replication activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-254 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which covers security weaknesses related to insufficient access control, and may also map to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and data manipulation within database environments. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected MySQL versions and prioritize remediation based on risk exposure and business criticality.