CVE-2014-0420 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the MySQL Server component in Oracle MySQL 5.5.34 and earlier, and 5.6.14 and earlier, allows remote authenticated users to affect availability via unknown vectors related to Replication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0420 represents a significant security flaw within Oracle MySQL Server's replication functionality that affects multiple versions including 5.5.34 and earlier, as well as 5.6.14 and earlier releases. This issue falls under the category of availability impact, meaning that authenticated attackers can potentially disrupt the service availability of MySQL servers through unspecified vectors related to replication mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets the MySQL Server component, which is a critical element in database infrastructure deployments across enterprise environments. The replication feature in MySQL enables data synchronization between master and slave servers, making it a fundamental aspect of database high availability and disaster recovery configurations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from unspecified attack vectors within the replication subsystem that can be exploited by authenticated users who possess valid credentials to access the MySQL server. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability would likely map to CWE-119, which deals with weaknesses in memory management, or potentially CWE-400, related to resource exhaustion. The replication process in MySQL involves complex synchronization mechanisms that handle data consistency, transaction processing, and network communication between server instances. When these mechanisms are compromised through the identified vulnerability, they can be manipulated to cause denial of service conditions that affect the overall availability of database services. The fact that this requires authentication indicates that the vulnerability operates within the legitimate access boundaries of the system, making it particularly concerning as it could be exploited by insiders or compromised accounts.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-0420 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire database infrastructures that rely on replication for their operational continuity. Organizations using affected MySQL versions may experience unexpected downtime, data synchronization failures, and potential cascading effects throughout their database ecosystems. The vulnerability's potential to affect availability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1566, which involves credential harvesting and privilege escalation. In practical deployment scenarios, this vulnerability could be particularly damaging in mission-critical applications where database availability is paramount, such as financial services, healthcare systems, or e-commerce platforms. The exploitation of this vulnerability could result in extended periods of unavailability, requiring manual intervention to restore replication functionality and potentially leading to data inconsistency issues between master and slave servers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected MySQL installations to the latest available versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of replication health and availability metrics to detect potential exploitation attempts or service disruptions. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting replication user permissions to only those necessary for synchronization operations. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to restrict access to MySQL replication endpoints, reducing the attack surface. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential exploitation vectors and ensure that replication configurations follow security best practices. Organizations should also maintain detailed incident response procedures specifically addressing replication-related availability issues, including rollback procedures and failover mechanisms to maintain service continuity during remediation activities.