CVE-2016-0654 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle MySQL 5.7.10 and earlier allows local users to affect availability via vectors related to InnoDB, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-0656.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0654 represents a critical availability threat within Oracle MySQL database systems, specifically affecting versions 5.7.10 and earlier. This issue resides within the InnoDB storage engine component, which serves as the default and most widely used storage engine for MySQL databases. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that while the exact technical details were not fully disclosed in the initial advisory, it clearly demonstrates a significant weakness in the database's ability to maintain operational continuity. The vulnerability's relationship to InnoDB suggests that it likely involves core database engine operations that could lead to system instability or complete service disruption.
The technical flaw manifests through vectors related to InnoDB operations, which form the foundation of MySQL's transactional database capabilities. InnoDB's architecture includes complex mechanisms for managing transactions, locking, and data consistency that create multiple potential attack surfaces. This vulnerability specifically targets the engine's ability to handle certain database operations or data structures in a manner that could lead to resource exhaustion, thread corruption, or system-level failures. The fact that this vulnerability operates differently from CVE-2016-0656 indicates that it represents a distinct class of issues within the InnoDB implementation, potentially involving memory management, transaction handling, or concurrency control mechanisms that are fundamental to database operation.
From an operational impact perspective, local users possessing access to the system can exploit this vulnerability to compromise the availability of MySQL services. This represents a particularly dangerous scenario because local access is often more easily obtained than remote access, and the attack requires minimal network exposure. The availability compromise could manifest as database service crashes, unresponsiveness, or complete system downtime that affects business operations. Organizations relying on MySQL for critical data operations face significant risk from this vulnerability, as database availability is fundamental to most business applications and services. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially affect data integrity and business continuity, particularly in environments where MySQL serves as a core component of enterprise infrastructure.
The vulnerability's classification under CWE categories related to availability and database engine flaws aligns with established patterns of security weaknesses in storage systems. This type of vulnerability fits within the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and denial of service tactics, where local attackers can leverage system-level access to create availability disruptions. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring solutions to detect anomalous database behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected MySQL versions, implementation of proper access controls to limit local user privileges, and regular security assessments of database systems. Additionally, maintaining robust backup and recovery procedures becomes essential when dealing with availability-focused vulnerabilities that could lead to complete service outages. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and the need for organizations to maintain current knowledge of database security issues that could impact their operational environments.