CVE-2013-5894 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the MySQL Server component in Oracle MySQL 5.6.13 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to affect availability via unknown vectors related to InnoDB.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5894 represents a critical availability threat within Oracle MySQL Server versions 5.6.13 and earlier, specifically impacting the InnoDB storage engine component. This unspecified weakness manifests through unknown vectors that enable remote authenticated attackers to disrupt system availability, potentially leading to service denial and operational downtime. The flaw resides within the MySQL Server's InnoDB implementation, which serves as the primary storage engine for transactional database operations and is widely deployed across enterprise environments. The vulnerability's classification as remote authenticated indicates that attackers must possess valid credentials to exploit the flaw, yet the attack surface remains significant given the widespread use of MySQL in production systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the InnoDB storage engine's handling of specific database operations that trigger unexpected behavior during transaction processing. While the exact vector remains unspecified in the public disclosure, the impact on availability suggests potential issues with resource management, transaction rollback mechanisms, or concurrency control within the InnoDB engine. Such flaws typically originate from improper handling of edge cases during database operations, memory allocation errors, or race conditions that can cause database processes to crash or become unresponsive. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-119, which addresses memory-related issues that can lead to system instability and availability disruption. The root cause likely involves inadequate input validation or improper state management within InnoDB's internal processing routines that handle concurrent database transactions.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-5894 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire database infrastructure reliability. Organizations running affected MySQL versions face significant risk of unplanned downtime, data access interruptions, and potential service degradation that can cascade into broader business operations. The remote nature of the attack vector means that malicious actors can exploit the vulnerability from external networks without requiring physical access to the database servers. This threat landscape aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499, which encompasses adversary actions targeting availability through system disruption. The vulnerability affects database availability specifically through the InnoDB engine, making it particularly dangerous for applications that depend heavily on transactional integrity and concurrent database access. Organizations with high-availability requirements or those operating mission-critical applications experience the most severe impact from such availability threats.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-5894 require immediate attention through patch management and system hardening measures. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to MySQL Server versions that address this vulnerability, specifically targeting releases beyond 5.6.13 where the InnoDB implementation has been corrected. The patching process must include thorough testing in staging environments to ensure compatibility with existing database applications and workflows. Network segmentation and access control measures can provide additional defense-in-depth, limiting the potential attack surface by restricting authentication access to database servers. Implementing monitoring solutions that detect unusual database behavior or performance degradation can help identify exploitation attempts before they cause significant disruption. Database administrators should also consider implementing connection limits and resource quotas to prevent exploitation scenarios that might exhaust system resources. Security teams should review access controls and authentication mechanisms to ensure that only authorized users can establish database connections, reducing the likelihood of successful exploitation. The vulnerability's impact on availability makes it critical for organizations to maintain robust disaster recovery and business continuity plans that account for potential database service disruptions.