CVE-2015-2573 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle MySQL Server 5.5.41 and earlier, and 5.6.22 and earlier, allows remote authenticated users to affect availability via vectors related to DDL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2573 represents a critical weakness in Oracle MySQL Server versions prior to 5.5.42 and 5.6.23, where authenticated remote attackers can exploit a flaw in the data definition language processing mechanism to disrupt system availability. This issue falls under the category of availability impact, which constitutes a fundamental threat to system integrity and operational continuity within database environments. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability description suggests that the flaw exists within the complex processing pathways of DDL statements, which are essential commands for defining and modifying database structures including tables, indexes, and schemas. The vulnerability affects both the 5.5 and 5.6 release series, indicating it was present across multiple generations of MySQL database server implementations and potentially exposed a wide range of deployments to risk.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through authenticated remote access, meaning that an attacker must first establish valid credentials to access the MySQL server before attempting to leverage the DDL-related flaw. This authentication requirement provides some mitigation but does not eliminate the risk entirely, as compromised credentials are a common attack vector in database environments. The DDL processing mechanism within MySQL handles commands such as create table, alter table, drop table, and similar structural modifications that are fundamental to database administration. When these commands are processed incorrectly due to the vulnerability, they can cause the MySQL server to crash, become unresponsive, or otherwise lose availability to legitimate users and applications that depend on the database service. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the database server's ability to maintain consistent service delivery and can result in significant downtime for applications relying on the affected database.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2573 extends beyond simple service disruption, as database availability is crucial for business continuity and application performance. Organizations running affected MySQL versions face potential data loss, service interruptions, and increased administrative burden when responding to such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's presence in both major release series means that database administrators across numerous deployments needed to assess their exposure and implement remediation measures. The exploitability requires authentication, which suggests that the attack surface is limited to environments where legitimate users have access to the database, but this does not prevent the vulnerability from being exploited by compromised accounts or insider threats. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with attack patterns described in the ATT&CK framework under database attack techniques, particularly those involving service disruption and availability compromise. The weakness demonstrates how seemingly routine database operations can become attack vectors when implementation flaws exist in core processing components.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL installations to address this vulnerability, as the remediation process is straightforward through official Oracle updates. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-119, which deals with weaknesses in memory management, and CWE-399, which addresses resource management flaws, suggesting that the underlying issue may involve improper handling of database resources during DDL processing. Database administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual patterns of DDL operations that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should review their access control measures to ensure that only necessary users have authentication credentials for database systems, reducing the potential attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date database server installations and following security best practices for access management. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for this specific issue to ensure comprehensive protection against similar threats in the database environment.