CVE-2013-3812 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the MySQL Server component in Oracle MySQL 5.5.31 and earlier and 5.6.11 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to affect availability via unknown vectors related to Server Replication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3812 represents a significant security flaw within Oracle MySQL Server's replication functionality that impacts versions 5.5.31 and earlier, as well as 5.6.11 and earlier. This unspecified vulnerability specifically targets the server replication component, which is a critical feature for maintaining data consistency across multiple database instances in distributed environments. The affected MySQL Server versions expose systems to potential availability disruptions when authenticated remote attackers exploit this weakness, creating a substantial risk for database administrators and system operators who rely on replication for data redundancy and high availability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies within the server replication subsystem where unknown vectors can cause service disruption or complete unavailability of the affected MySQL instances. While the exact technical mechanism remains unspecified in the public CVE description, the classification as a replication-related issue suggests that the flaw likely involves improper handling of replication events, transaction processing, or replication state management. Such vulnerabilities in replication components are particularly dangerous because they can cascade through replicated database clusters, potentially causing widespread service outages across multiple connected systems that depend on consistent data synchronization.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations utilizing MySQL replication for business-critical applications. Remote authenticated users who can establish connections to the MySQL server can potentially exploit this weakness to cause service disruption, leading to database unavailability that affects application performance and user access. The impact extends beyond individual database instances to entire distributed database systems where replication is used for failover mechanisms, read scaling, or data distribution across multiple geographic locations. Organizations with mission-critical applications relying on MySQL replication may experience significant downtime and data access interruptions that could result in financial losses and service degradation.
The vulnerability's classification as affecting availability aligns with common attack patterns found in the ATT&CK framework under the "Impact" category, particularly related to service disruption and availability compromise. From a CWE perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within a Memory Buffer or potentially CWE-20 Improper Input Validation, given that it involves processing of replication-related data that may not be properly validated or sanitized. The attack surface is widened by the fact that the vulnerability requires only authenticated access, meaning that users with legitimate database credentials could exploit this weakness, making it particularly concerning for environments where database access is broadly distributed.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the latest security patches from Oracle MySQL releases, which would address the specific replication vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing additional access controls and monitoring for replication-related activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be reviewed to limit unnecessary access to MySQL replication ports and functionality. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date database software and implementing comprehensive security monitoring for replication components, as these systems often serve as critical infrastructure elements in enterprise database architectures. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should specifically target replication configurations to identify and remediate similar weaknesses that could compromise database availability and integrity.