CVE-2016-0648 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 availability via vectors related to PS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0648 represents a significant availability threat within Oracle MySQL database systems across multiple version ranges including 5.5.48 and earlier, 5.6.29 and earlier, and 5.7.11 and earlier. This issue specifically targets the Performance Schema component of MySQL, which is designed to monitor and track database performance metrics. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability suggests a complex underlying flaw that affects the system's ability to maintain consistent operation under normal conditions. Security researchers have classified this as a local privilege escalation vulnerability that could potentially disrupt database services and compromise system availability. The vulnerability resides within the MySQL server's internal mechanisms that handle performance monitoring data, making it particularly concerning for database administrators who rely on consistent system performance tracking.
The technical flaw manifests through vectors related to the Performance Schema functionality, which is a critical component for database performance analysis and monitoring. When exploited, this vulnerability can cause the MySQL service to become unresponsive or crash entirely, leading to complete service disruption. The attack vector requires local system access, meaning that an attacker must already have user-level privileges on the system hosting the MySQL instance. However, the impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can result in denial of service conditions that affect business-critical database operations. The Performance Schema component handles various internal metrics including thread execution times, lock waits, and query execution statistics, making it a prime target for availability attacks. This vulnerability operates at the kernel level within MySQL's architecture, affecting how the system manages and processes performance monitoring data.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0648 is severe and far-reaching for organizations relying on MySQL database infrastructure. System availability can be compromised through unexpected service termination or resource exhaustion, leading to extended downtime for database-dependent applications. Database administrators may experience complete loss of performance monitoring capabilities, which can hinder troubleshooting efforts during system failures. The vulnerability's potential to cause cascading failures means that database applications relying on performance data may also become unstable or crash. Organizations with high availability requirements face particular risk as this vulnerability can disrupt critical business operations. The local access requirement does not diminish the threat level, as compromised local accounts or privilege escalation attacks can easily exploit this weakness. This vulnerability directly impacts the reliability and trustworthiness of database systems, potentially leading to data loss or corruption during service disruptions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0648 focus primarily on immediate patching and system hardening measures. Oracle released security updates for all affected MySQL versions, and organizations should prioritize applying these patches to eliminate the vulnerability. System administrators should disable the Performance Schema component if it is not actively required for monitoring purposes, as this can prevent exploitation while maintaining database functionality. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit local system access to MySQL instances, reducing the attack surface. Regular security audits and monitoring should be conducted to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses improper restriction of operations within a limited access scope, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers exploit for privilege escalation. Organizations should also implement comprehensive backup and recovery procedures to minimize the impact of potential service disruptions. Additionally, monitoring for unusual system behavior or performance schema related errors can help detect exploitation attempts before they cause significant damage. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in development environments before deployment to production systems to ensure compatibility and prevent unintended side effects.