CVE-2015-4862 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle MySQL Server 5.6.26 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to affect availability via vectors related to DML.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4862 represents a significant threat to database availability within Oracle MySQL Server environments. This unspecified weakness affects versions 5.6.26 and earlier, indicating that the flaw has existed for several years and potentially impacted numerous production systems. The vulnerability specifically relates to Data Manipulation Language operations, which form the core of database interaction and management. DML operations include fundamental commands such as insert, update, delete, and select statements that are essential for application functionality and data integrity. The fact that this vulnerability can be exploited by remote authenticated users suggests that attackers who have gained legitimate database access credentials can leverage this flaw to disrupt service availability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of DML operations within the MySQL server implementation. When authenticated users execute certain DML statements, the server may encounter unexpected behavior that leads to system instability or complete service disruption. This type of vulnerability typically arises from insufficient input validation, memory management issues, or flawed error handling mechanisms within the database engine. The remote aspect of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the server, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can target vulnerable systems from anywhere on the network. The authenticated requirement indicates that attackers must first obtain valid login credentials, which could be achieved through various means including credential theft, brute force attacks, or social engineering.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-4862 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the entire database infrastructure. When DML operations fail or cause system instability, it can lead to cascading failures that affect multiple applications depending on the database for their operations. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability component of the CIA triad, potentially causing denial of service conditions that can last from minutes to hours depending on the severity and how quickly the issue is detected and addressed. Organizations may experience significant downtime, data access interruptions, and potential loss of business continuity. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to escalate their privileges or move laterally within the network, as database systems often contain sensitive information and serve as central points of access for various applications.
From a security framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which addresses improper restriction of operations within a limited context, and may also relate to CWE-476, which covers null pointer dereference conditions. The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability would fall under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and denial of service techniques, potentially utilizing the T1078 credential access method to gain the necessary authenticated access before exploiting the DML-related weakness. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the official Oracle security patches, implementing network segmentation to limit database access, and monitoring for unusual DML activity patterns. Additionally, regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in database configurations. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patches in non-production environments before deployment to ensure no regression issues are introduced. Database administrators should also review and tighten access controls, implement proper logging and monitoring of DML operations, and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to database availability threats.