CVE-2016-0666 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 Security: Privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2022
This vulnerability resides within Oracle MySQL database systems affecting versions 5.5.48 and earlier, 5.6.29 and earlier, and 5.7.11 and earlier. The flaw manifests as an unspecified weakness in the security privilege mechanisms that could potentially compromise system availability. From a cybersecurity perspective, this represents a critical concern as local users with access to the system can exploit this weakness to disrupt normal operations and availability of the database service. The vulnerability specifically relates to how the system handles privilege checks and access controls, making it particularly dangerous in environments where local access is possible.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability appears to stem from inadequate validation or enforcement of privilege levels within the MySQL security framework. When local users interact with the database system, they may be able to manipulate or bypass expected privilege checks that should prevent certain operations. This weakness likely occurs during authentication or authorization phases where the system fails to properly validate user permissions or roles. The impact is particularly severe because local access typically requires minimal attack surface compared to remote exploits, making such vulnerabilities especially concerning for database administrators. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms in software systems, and represents a classic example of privilege escalation or privilege bypass scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple availability disruption to encompass potential data integrity and confidentiality risks. Local users who exploit this weakness could potentially cause denial of service conditions that prevent legitimate database operations from completing successfully. In production environments, this could lead to significant downtime and business disruption, particularly in systems where database availability is critical for application functionality. The vulnerability could enable attackers to prevent legitimate users from accessing database resources, effectively creating a denial of service condition that impacts business operations. Additionally, depending on the specific nature of the privilege bypass, attackers might be able to escalate their access level to perform unauthorized operations that could compromise the entire database system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected MySQL versions to the latest available releases that contain fixes for the privilege handling mechanisms. Database administrators should implement comprehensive access control policies and regularly audit user privileges to minimize the impact of potential local exploits. System hardening measures including limiting local access to database systems, implementing proper monitoring for unusual privilege-related activities, and maintaining regular backups should be implemented. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to reduce the attack surface and ensure that only authorized personnel have local access to database systems. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and could be leveraged as part of broader attack chains involving lateral movement and persistence within compromised environments. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched systems to ensure that the vulnerability is fully resolved without introducing new operational issues.