CVE-2014-6489 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle MySQL Server 5.6.19 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to affect integrity and availability via vectors related to SERVER:SP.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6489 represents a significant security flaw within Oracle MySQL Server versions 5.6.19 and earlier. This issue falls under the broader category of database server vulnerabilities that can be exploited by authenticated remote attackers to compromise system integrity and availability. The vulnerability specifically relates to the SERVER:SP component of the MySQL server architecture, indicating that the flaw exists within the server's stored procedure execution environment. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be leveraged by attackers who already have legitimate access credentials to the database system, potentially escalating their privileges and causing widespread damage to the database infrastructure. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability description suggests that the exact technical mechanism of exploitation was not fully disclosed in the initial reporting, which is common with certain types of database security flaws.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability appears to be rooted in how MySQL handles stored procedures within its server environment, specifically within version 5.6.19 and earlier releases. When an authenticated user executes certain operations within the server context, particularly those involving stored procedures, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters. This allows maliciously crafted stored procedure calls to manipulate the server's internal state, potentially leading to data corruption, unauthorized modifications to database objects, or service disruption. The vulnerability's impact on integrity suggests that attackers could modify database contents or stored procedure definitions in ways that compromise the accuracy and reliability of the stored data. The availability impact indicates that the flaw could also be exploited to cause denial of service conditions, making database services unavailable to legitimate users. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-119 in the Common Weakness Enumeration system, which deals with weaknesses related to the improper handling of memory or data access within software systems. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access, meaning that an attacker with valid database credentials can exploit this vulnerability without requiring additional privileges or complex initial access methods.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations relying on MySQL Server versions 5.6.19 or earlier for their database infrastructure. The combination of integrity and availability impacts means that an attacker with minimal privileges could potentially cause significant damage to database systems, including data manipulation, service disruption, and potential data loss. The fact that this vulnerability affects stored procedures specifically makes it particularly dangerous in environments where complex business logic is encapsulated within database stored procedures, as these procedures often contain critical data processing and validation routines. Organizations using older MySQL versions may experience cascading failures if attackers exploit this vulnerability, as stored procedures are frequently used to implement business rules and data consistency checks. The vulnerability's potential for remote exploitation means that attackers can leverage network connections to access database servers without requiring physical access, making the attack surface much broader. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability would be categorized under the T1078 technique for Valid Accounts, as it leverages legitimate authentication credentials to exploit the system, and potentially under T1499 for Endpoint Termination, depending on how the availability impact is manifested.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability through patching or upgrading to MySQL Server versions that have addressed this issue. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying Oracle's security patches for MySQL Server 5.6.20 and later versions, which contain fixes for the SERVER:SP component vulnerabilities. Additionally, organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the scope of potential exploitation, ensuring that database servers are not directly accessible from untrusted networks. Database administrators should also review and restrict stored procedure permissions, implementing the principle of least privilege to minimize the potential damage from any successful exploitation. Monitoring and logging of stored procedure executions should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date database software and implementing comprehensive security monitoring practices. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues within the database infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on suspicious stored procedure usage patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The incident underscores the critical nature of database security in enterprise environments where data integrity and availability are paramount for business operations.