CVE-2014-6484 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle MySQL Server 5.5.38 and earlier, and 5.6.19 and earlier, allows remote authenticated users to affect availability via vectors related to SERVER:DML.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6484 represents a critical availability issue within Oracle MySQL Server affecting multiple version ranges including 5.5.38 and earlier, as well as 5.6.19 and earlier versions. This vulnerability resides within the server's DML processing capabilities and specifically impacts authenticated remote attackers who can leverage this flaw to disrupt system availability. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability description suggests that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, though the classification indicates it operates through server-side data manipulation language operations.
The technical flaw manifests within MySQL's server-side processing of DML operations, which encompasses data manipulation commands such as insert, update, and delete statements. Attackers with valid authentication credentials can exploit this weakness to cause system instability or complete service disruption. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of availability attacks that target the fundamental operational integrity of database systems. The impact extends beyond simple data manipulation to encompass complete service degradation or termination, making it particularly dangerous for production environments where database availability is critical.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on MySQL databases for mission-critical applications. The ability for authenticated users to cause availability disruption means that both legitimate users and malicious actors with compromised credentials could potentially exploit this flaw. The attack vector through SERVER:DML indicates that the exploitation occurs at the database server level during processing of data manipulation commands, potentially leading to denial of service conditions that could affect thousands of concurrent users depending on the database system's scale. Organizations may experience extended downtime, data access interruptions, and potential business disruption when this vulnerability is exploited.
Security professionals should prioritize patch management and immediate remediation for affected MySQL installations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which covers unspecified errors in the implementation of security features, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1499, which involves the disruption of services through availability attacks. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to database servers, enforce strict authentication controls, and monitor for unusual DML operation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also emphasizes the importance of regular security assessments and maintaining up-to-date database software to prevent exploitation of known weaknesses in database management systems.