CVE-2015-4807 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle MySQL Server 5.5.45 and earlier and 5.6.26 and earlier, when running on Windows, allows remote authenticated users to affect availability via unknown vectors related to Server : Query Cache.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4807 represents a critical availability issue within Oracle MySQL Server versions 5.5.45 and earlier, as well as 5.6.26 and earlier, specifically when deployed on Windows operating systems. This flaw resides within the server's query cache component, which serves as a crucial performance optimization feature that stores previously executed queries and their results to avoid redundant processing. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests that attackers can exploit multiple pathways within the query cache mechanism to disrupt service availability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate handling of query cache operations in the Windows-specific MySQL server implementation. When authenticated users execute certain query operations, the server's query cache subsystem may experience memory corruption or resource exhaustion conditions that lead to service disruption. This vulnerability operates at the application level and leverages the authentication mechanism to gain access to the database server, making it particularly dangerous as it requires only legitimate user credentials rather than privileged access. The query cache functionality typically manages memory allocation for cached results, and the flaw likely involves improper memory management or synchronization issues that occur during concurrent query processing scenarios.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to database availability and system reliability. Attackers can exploit this weakness to cause denial of service conditions that may require manual intervention to restore normal operations. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as database applications relying on MySQL may experience cascading failures affecting business operations, data integrity, and user access. The vulnerability affects systems where query caching is actively enabled and utilized, which represents a substantial portion of MySQL deployments in enterprise environments. Organizations using MySQL on Windows platforms with active query cache functionality face potential disruptions that could last from minutes to hours depending on the severity of the exploit and the recovery procedures implemented.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in relation to CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios, as these categories often encompass memory management flaws in database server components. The attack surface aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks targeting database systems, and T1566.001, which encompasses social engineering tactics that could lead to authenticated access. Mitigation strategies include immediate patching of affected MySQL server versions to the latest available releases, disabling query cache functionality if not essential for performance, implementing network-level access controls to limit authentication opportunities, and monitoring for unusual query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected systems and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to database availability disruptions.