CVE-2016-0642 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle MySQL 5.5.48 and earlier, 5.6.29 and earlier, and 5.7.11 and earlier allows local users to affect integrity and availability via vectors related to Federated.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0642 represents a significant security flaw within Oracle MySQL database systems affecting multiple version ranges including 5.5.48 and earlier, 5.6.29 and earlier, and 5.7.11 and earlier. This issue resides within the Federated storage engine component of MySQL, which enables database users to access data from remote MySQL servers as if it were local. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability indicates that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, though the impact spans both data integrity and system availability domains. The Federated storage engine's design allows for distributed database operations by creating local table definitions that reference remote data sources, creating a complex attack surface that can be exploited by malicious local users.
The technical flaw manifests through vectors related to the Federated storage engine's handling of remote connections and data processing operations. Attackers with local system access can exploit this vulnerability to potentially corrupt data integrity within the database system or cause availability disruptions through various mechanisms. The Federated engine's architecture creates opportunities for privilege escalation and data manipulation attacks, particularly when dealing with remote table references and connection handling. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the database engine level, allowing attackers to leverage local access privileges to compromise the fundamental integrity and availability of the MySQL system. The attack surface expands when considering that local users may already have elevated privileges within the system environment, making this vulnerability a critical concern for database administrators.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0642 extends beyond simple data corruption or system downtime, as it represents a fundamental weakness in how MySQL handles federated database operations. Organizations running affected MySQL versions face potential data integrity violations that could compromise sensitive information, along with availability risks that could disrupt business operations. The vulnerability's location within the Federated storage engine means that any database system utilizing this feature is at risk, regardless of whether the federated tables are actively used or not. This creates a broad attack surface that can be exploited by malicious insiders or attackers who have gained local system access, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where local access controls are not properly enforced.
Security practitioners should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL installations to mitigate this vulnerability, as the risk of exploitation increases with the presence of local user accounts and federated table configurations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and potentially CWE-310 (Cryptographic Issues) depending on how the federated connections are established and managed. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and data manipulation, particularly T1068 (Local Port Forwarding) and T1566 (Phishing). Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring for unauthorized federated table creation or modification attempts, and conduct thorough security assessments of all database systems to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their infrastructure. The remediation process must include not only patching but also reviewing and strengthening local access controls, implementing proper network segmentation, and ensuring that federated database configurations are properly audited and restricted to authorized users only.