CVE-2016-0607 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle MySQL 5.6.27 and earlier and 5.7.9 allows remote authenticated users to affect availability via unknown vectors related to replication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0607 represents a significant threat to database availability within Oracle MySQL deployments, specifically affecting versions 5.6.27 and earlier, as well as 5.7.9 and prior releases. This issue resides within the replication functionality of the database system, creating potential for remote authenticated attackers to disrupt service availability. The unspecified nature of the exact vector makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it may encompass multiple attack pathways that could be exploited by threat actors with legitimate authentication credentials. The replication mechanism in MySQL serves as a critical component for data synchronization across multiple database instances, making any weakness in this area potentially devastating for high availability systems that depend on replication for disaster recovery and load distribution. Organizations utilizing MySQL replication for mission-critical applications face substantial risk from this vulnerability, as it could lead to complete service outages that impact business operations and customer access.
The technical flaw manifests within the MySQL replication subsystem where authenticated users can leverage their credentials to manipulate replication processes in ways that compromise system availability. While the specific technical details remain undisclosed in the CVE description, such vulnerabilities typically involve improper input validation, resource exhaustion, or state management issues within the replication thread handling mechanisms. The fact that this vulnerability affects both the 5.6 and 5.7 release lines indicates a fundamental flaw in the replication architecture that persisted across multiple versions, suggesting a deep-rooted issue rather than a simple patchable bug. Attackers with valid authentication credentials can potentially trigger conditions that cause replication threads to crash, hang, or consume excessive system resources, leading to cascading failures that impact the entire database infrastructure. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which covers stack-based buffer overflow conditions, or CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow conditions, though the exact technical manifestation requires deeper analysis of the affected code paths.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0607 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire database clusters and enterprise data availability. When replication processes are compromised, it can lead to data inconsistency issues where different database instances become out of sync, creating complex recovery scenarios that may require manual intervention and extensive data reconciliation. Organizations relying on MySQL replication for high availability setups face the risk of complete service outages that could last hours or days while recovery procedures are implemented. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to systems, and the authenticated requirement reduces the barrier to exploitation compared to attacks requiring additional privilege escalation. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability component of the CIA triad and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and potentially T1566.001 for credential harvesting that could lead to unauthorized access. The attack surface includes database administrators, application users, and any legitimate account that has access to the replication functionality, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users maintain access privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0607 should focus on immediate patching of affected MySQL versions to the latest available releases that contain fixes for the replication vulnerability. Organizations should implement strict access controls and principle of least privilege for replication-related accounts to minimize the potential impact of credential compromise. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to restrict replication traffic to only necessary systems, reducing the attack surface for exploitation. Regular monitoring of replication health and performance metrics should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts before they cause significant disruption. Database administrators should conduct thorough testing of replication configurations after applying patches to ensure that the fixes do not introduce compatibility issues with existing applications. Additionally, implementing comprehensive backup and recovery procedures is essential as a defensive measure, since the vulnerability's potential for causing availability issues means that traditional preventive measures may not be sufficient. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can monitor for unusual replication activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to handle replication-related availability disruptions. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date database software and the potential consequences of delayed patch management in enterprise environments.