CVE-2016-0646 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle MySQL 5.5.47 and earlier, 5.6.28 and earlier, and 5.7.10 and earlier allows local users to affect availability via vectors related to DML.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0646 represents a significant availability risk within Oracle MySQL database systems across multiple version ranges including 5.5.47 and earlier, 5.6.28 and earlier, and 5.7.10 and earlier. This unspecified flaw resides within the database management system's handling of Data Manipulation Language operations, which form the core of database interaction processes. The vulnerability specifically impacts local users who can exploit this weakness to disrupt database availability, potentially causing system downtime and service interruptions that could affect critical business operations relying on MySQL infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of DML operations within the MySQL database engine, where local attackers can manipulate database commands to trigger system instability or resource exhaustion. This type of vulnerability typically involves weaknesses in input validation, memory management, or command processing that can be exploited through carefully crafted database operations. The impact on availability manifests when legitimate database operations are disrupted or when system resources become consumed in ways that prevent normal database functioning, creating denial of service conditions that can persist until manual intervention or system restart occurs.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents substantial risk to organizations utilizing affected MySQL versions as it allows local privilege escalation to availability disruption. The local user access requirement means that attackers must already have system-level access or be able to execute code on the database server, but once achieved, the impact can be severe. Database administrators and security teams must consider this vulnerability as a potential threat vector that could be exploited by malicious insiders or compromised local accounts. The availability impact specifically affects database services that rely on proper DML processing, potentially causing cascading failures in applications that depend on database connectivity and transaction processing.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL versions to address this vulnerability, as the availability impact can severely disrupt business operations and data access. The remediation process should involve upgrading to patched versions of MySQL that address the DML handling issues, with careful testing to ensure compatibility with existing database applications. Security teams should also implement monitoring for unusual database activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on DML command sequences that could trigger the vulnerability. Additionally, access controls and privilege management should be reviewed to minimize the risk of local users gaining access to systems where this vulnerability exists, aligning with security best practices for database system hardening and defense-in-depth strategies.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses weaknesses in memory management and data handling, and may relate to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and denial of service. The specific impact on database availability represents a critical concern for enterprise environments where database uptime is essential for business continuity and data integrity. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments across their MySQL installations to identify all affected systems and ensure appropriate mitigations are implemented. The remediation timeline should be prioritized based on risk assessment, considering factors such as network exposure, local access controls, and the criticality of database services to overall system operations.