CVE-2016-0598 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle MySQL 5.5.46 and earlier, 5.6.27 and earlier, and 5.7.9 allows remote authenticated users to affect availability via vectors related to DML.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0598 represents a critical availability issue within Oracle MySQL database systems affecting multiple version ranges including 5.5.46 and earlier, 5.6.27 and earlier, and 5.7.9 and earlier versions. This vulnerability specifically targets the Data Manipulation Language components of the database system, which are fundamental to database operations including select, insert, update, and delete commands. The flaw enables authenticated remote attackers to disrupt database availability, potentially leading to service interruption and denial of access for legitimate users.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and error handling within the MySQL server's DML processing mechanisms. When authenticated users execute specific DML operations against the database, the system fails to properly handle certain malformed inputs or edge cases in the data manipulation processes. This weakness creates opportunities for attackers to craft malicious queries or operations that trigger unexpected behavior in the database engine, ultimately resulting in system instability or complete service unavailability.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to database availability and business continuity. Organizations relying on affected MySQL versions face potential service disruption that could affect critical business applications depending on database access. The authenticated nature of the attack means that attackers must first gain valid credentials, but once achieved, they can leverage this vulnerability to cause denial of service conditions that may require system restarts or extensive recovery procedures. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as database availability issues can cascade through dependent applications and services.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and may also relate to CWE-122, concerning heap-based buffer overflow conditions, depending on the specific implementation details. The attack pattern follows techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1499 category for network denial of service, where adversaries target system availability through database manipulation. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, implement network segmentation to limit access to database servers, and establish robust monitoring for unusual database activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any unpatched systems within the organization's infrastructure.