CVE-2014-0393 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the MySQL Server component in Oracle MySQL 5.1.71 and earlier, 5.5.33 and earlier, and 5.6.13 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to affect integrity via unknown vectors related to InnoDB.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0393 represents a critical integrity flaw within the MySQL Server database management system, specifically affecting the InnoDB storage engine. This issue impacts multiple version ranges including MySQL 5.1.71 and earlier, 5.5.33 and earlier, and 5.6.13 and earlier, indicating a widespread exposure across the MySQL product line. The vulnerability is classified as remote and authenticated, meaning that an attacker must possess valid credentials to exploit the flaw, but can do so from any network location without requiring physical access to the server. This characteristic significantly broadens the potential attack surface compared to local vulnerabilities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability is rooted in the InnoDB storage engine's handling of certain database operations, though the exact vector remains unspecified in the initial description. InnoDB is MySQL's default storage engine that provides advanced features including foreign key support, row-level locking, and transactional integrity. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability suggests that it could potentially affect various aspects of database integrity including data consistency, transaction handling, or storage operations within the InnoDB engine. This ambiguity in the vulnerability description often indicates either a complex underlying issue or a deliberate withholding of specific technical details by the vendor during the initial disclosure period.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to database integrity and could potentially allow authenticated attackers to manipulate or corrupt database data. The impact extends beyond simple data modification to potentially affect the consistency and reliability of database transactions, which are fundamental to maintaining data integrity in enterprise environments. Organizations relying on MySQL with InnoDB storage engines for critical business operations face substantial risk of data corruption or unauthorized data manipulation if they operate affected versions. The authenticated nature of the attack means that compromised user accounts or credentials could be leveraged to exploit this vulnerability, making credential security and access controls even more critical.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which addresses weaknesses in memory management and buffer handling, though the specific mechanism is not detailed in the CVE description. This classification suggests potential issues related to memory corruption or improper handling of database operations within the InnoDB engine. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be exploited as part of a broader attack chain involving credential access and privilege escalation, potentially enabling attackers to perform data integrity attacks or information manipulation. The attack surface is particularly concerning for database administrators as it could allow manipulation of critical business data without detection, potentially affecting audit trails and compliance requirements.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to patched versions of MySQL, specifically versions beyond the affected ranges mentioned in the CVE. The patching process should include thorough testing in development environments before deployment to production systems to ensure compatibility with existing applications. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of credential compromise, while monitoring for unusual database activity can aid in early detection of exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.