CVE-2016-0608 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 UDF.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0608 represents a significant security flaw within Oracle MySQL database systems that affects multiple version ranges including 5.5.46 and earlier, 5.6.27 and earlier, and 5.7.9 and earlier versions. This unspecified vulnerability specifically targets the User Defined Functions (UDF) component of the MySQL database engine, creating a potential avenue for remote authenticated attackers to compromise system availability. The flaw exists within the database's handling of UDFs which are custom functions that extend MySQL's functionality through dynamically loaded libraries. Attackers who have authenticated access to the MySQL server can exploit this weakness to disrupt database operations and potentially cause system unavailability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper validation and handling of User Defined Functions within the MySQL server architecture. When authenticated users interact with the database system, they can manipulate UDF loading mechanisms in ways that lead to resource exhaustion or system instability. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of availability attacks as opposed to confidentiality or integrity breaches, where the primary impact is the disruption of service availability rather than data compromise. The UDF functionality in MySQL allows for the dynamic loading of shared libraries that can execute arbitrary code, making this attack vector particularly dangerous when combined with authenticated access privileges. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and resource management within the MySQL server's UDF handling subsystem, creating opportunities for denial-of-service conditions that can persist until the database service is manually restarted.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates serious risks for database administrators and system operators who must maintain continuous availability of their MySQL services. The remote authenticated nature of the attack means that compromised accounts or users with legitimate database access can exploit this weakness without requiring physical access to the system. Organizations running affected MySQL versions face potential downtime and service disruption that can impact business operations, particularly in environments where database availability is critical for application functionality. The vulnerability can be exploited to cause database crashes, connection failures, or resource exhaustion that prevents legitimate users from accessing database services. Security teams must consider the broader implications of this vulnerability within their overall security posture, as it represents a potential entry point for more sophisticated attacks that could leverage the availability disruption as a stepping stone for additional compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0608 should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL versions to the latest available releases that contain fixes for the UDF handling vulnerabilities. Database administrators should implement strict access controls and monitor for unusual UDF loading activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit the number of authenticated users who have the ability to load or modify UDFs within the database system. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous database behavior patterns associated with UDF exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for MySQL versions and UDF configurations to ensure compliance with security best practices. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service and CWE-20 for improper input validation, highlighting the importance of robust validation mechanisms in database system components. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for proper resource management in database engines to prevent exploitation of legitimate functionality for malicious purposes.