CVE-2014-4243 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the MySQL Server component in Oracle MySQL 5.5.35 and earlier and 5.6.15 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to affect availability via vectors related to ENFED.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4243 resides within the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL versions 5.5.35 and earlier, as well as 5.6.15 and earlier. This unspecified weakness specifically affects the ENFED functionality within the database server, creating a potential avenue for remote authenticated attackers to compromise system availability. The vulnerability represents a significant concern for database administrators and security professionals who manage MySQL deployments in production environments.
The technical flaw manifests through vectors related to ENFED which suggests an issue within the federated storage engine or related functionality. ENFED typically refers to the federated storage engine in MySQL that allows users to access data from remote MySQL servers as if it were local. This particular vulnerability enables authenticated attackers to exploit the federated functionality in ways that can lead to service disruption or complete unavailability of the affected MySQL server instance. The fact that this vulnerability requires authentication indicates that it operates within the context of legitimate user sessions rather than being a privilege escalation issue, though the impact on availability remains severe.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4243 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to potentially disrupt critical business operations that depend on MySQL database availability. Organizations utilizing MySQL in mission-critical applications face significant risk as attackers with legitimate credentials could exploit this vulnerability to render database services unavailable, causing cascading effects throughout dependent systems and applications. This type of availability compromise aligns with attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the availability impact category, specifically targeting database services and their operational continuity. The vulnerability also relates to CWE-119 which addresses weaknesses in memory management and buffer handling that could be exploited to cause service disruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4243 primarily focus on upgrading to patched versions of MySQL where Oracle has addressed the underlying ENFED-related vulnerability. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of MySQL versions 5.5.36 and 5.6.16 or later, which contain the necessary fixes. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact by restricting authenticated access to only necessary personnel. Database administrators should also consider disabling the federated storage engine entirely if it is not required for business operations, as this eliminates the attack surface associated with ENFED functionality. Monitoring for unusual database activity patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts before they cause significant disruption to service availability.