CVE-2013-1506 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle MySQL 5.1.67 and earlier, 5.5.29 and earlier, and 5.6.10 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to affect availability via unknown vectors related to Server Locking.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1506 represents a significant availability risk within Oracle MySQL database systems across multiple version ranges including 5.1.67 and earlier, 5.5.29 and earlier, and 5.6.10 and earlier. This weakness falls under the broader category of server locking mechanisms that can be exploited by authenticated remote attackers to disrupt database operations. The unspecified nature of the exact attack vectors makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it may encompass multiple exploitation techniques that could lead to service disruption or complete unavailability of the affected database instances. The vulnerability specifically targets the server locking components within MySQL's architecture, which are fundamental to database transaction management and concurrency control.
The technical flaw manifests in how MySQL handles server locking operations during concurrent database transactions and operations. When authenticated users leverage this vulnerability, they can manipulate the locking mechanisms in ways that cause the database server to become unresponsive or crash entirely. This type of attack directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad by potentially rendering database services inaccessible to legitimate users. The server locking system in MySQL is designed to prevent data corruption during concurrent access scenarios, but this vulnerability creates conditions where legitimate locking operations can be subverted or overwhelmed, leading to denial of service conditions. The attack vector requires authentication, meaning that only users with valid credentials can exploit this weakness, though this does not mitigate the potential impact on database availability.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-1506 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise business continuity and data availability for organizations relying on affected MySQL versions. Database unavailability can cascade through application systems that depend on these database services, potentially causing widespread service outages across enterprise environments. The vulnerability's presence in multiple MySQL version lines means that organizations running any of these affected versions face risk regardless of their specific deployment scenario. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in large enterprise environments where database availability is critical for business operations. The impact is amplified because the attacker only needs valid authentication credentials, which are often more readily available than zero-day exploits requiring privilege escalation.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL installations to address this vulnerability, as the risk of exploitation increases with the time between vulnerability disclosure and remediation. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched environments to ensure that the updates do not introduce compatibility issues with existing database applications. Security teams should implement monitoring protocols to detect unusual locking patterns or connection behaviors that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access control measures can help limit the potential impact by restricting access to database servers to only authorized personnel. Additionally, organizations should review their database access controls and authentication mechanisms to ensure that only necessary users have the privileges required to perform operations that might trigger the vulnerable locking mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 and CWE-122 categories related to buffer overflow conditions and data handling issues, while also mapping to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and denial of service through system resource manipulation.