CVE-2013-1502 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle MySQL 5.5.30 and earlier and 5.6.9 and earlier allows local users to affect availability via unknown vectors related to Server Partition.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1502 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle MySQL database systems that affects versions 5.5.30 and earlier, as well as 5.6.9 and earlier. This issue resides within the server partition functionality of the database management system and specifically impacts local users who can potentially disrupt system availability through unspecified attack vectors. The vulnerability classification indicates a local privilege escalation risk where authenticated users with access to the system can manipulate database partitioning mechanisms to cause service disruption or complete system unavailability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the MySQL server partitioning subsystem. When processing partitioned table operations, the system fails to properly validate certain parameters or handle exceptional conditions that could lead to resource exhaustion, memory corruption, or denial of service conditions. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack paths exist within the partitioning logic that could be exploited by local users with appropriate privileges. This weakness falls under the broader category of software defects that can lead to availability impacts, often classified as CWE-121 in the Common Weakness Enumeration taxonomy.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to database availability and system stability. Local users with access to the MySQL server can potentially cause system crashes, resource depletion, or complete service interruption that affects database operations and application functionality. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service as the vulnerability could lead to data corruption or loss of database integrity. Organizations running affected MySQL versions face potential business disruption, especially in environments where database availability is critical for application performance and user access. The local nature of the attack means that even users with limited privileges can cause substantial damage to system availability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-1502 should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL installations to the latest stable versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit local access to database servers and enforce strict access controls. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues within database environments. System monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual resource consumption patterns or service disruptions that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper database administration practices including regular backups, access logging, and privilege management can help reduce the attack surface and minimize potential impact from such vulnerabilities.
The vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to privilege escalation and denial of service. Attackers could leverage this weakness to maintain persistent access to systems or cause operational disruptions that align with the goal of compromising system availability. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader threat modeling efforts and ensure that their incident response procedures include specific protocols for addressing database availability issues. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing to verify that patches do not introduce compatibility issues with existing database applications or workflows.