CVE-2016-3459 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle MySQL 5.6.30 and earlier and 5.7.12 and earlier and MariaDB 10.0.x before 10.0.25 and 10.1.x before 10.1.14 allows remote administrators to affect availability via vectors related to Server: InnoDB.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2022
This vulnerability affects database systems and represents a significant availability risk for remote administrators with access to MySQL and MariaDB installations. The issue stems from unspecified flaws within the InnoDB storage engine component that governs database transaction processing and data management. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions of Oracle MySQL prior to 5.6.30 and 5.7.12, as well as MariaDB versions before 10.0.25 and 10.1.14, indicating a widespread exposure across multiple database platforms. The classification as a server-level vulnerability within the InnoDB subsystem suggests that the flaw could be exploited to disrupt database services through carefully crafted administrative operations or transactions that trigger unexpected behavior in the underlying storage engine.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of database server operations that ultimately lead to service disruption or unavailability. Attackers with administrative privileges could potentially leverage this flaw to cause database servers to crash or become unresponsive, thereby impacting the availability of critical business applications that depend on these database systems. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service as it could affect the integrity of database operations and potentially lead to data corruption or loss if the server becomes unstable during critical transactions. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses memory safety issues and CWE-400 which covers resource exhaustion vulnerabilities that can affect database server stability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations relying on MySQL or MariaDB for their database infrastructure. Database unavailability can cascade through entire application ecosystems, affecting business continuity and potentially resulting in financial losses due to downtime. The remote nature of the attack vector means that administrators with legitimate access could be compromised or that attackers could gain elevated privileges through social engineering or other means to exploit this flaw. Organizations may experience service interruptions that require immediate remediation and could impact disaster recovery procedures if the database becomes unstable during critical operations. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version streams indicates that proper patch management and version control processes are essential for maintaining database security posture.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch application to the affected database versions, with priority given to production environments where the risk of exploitation is highest. Database administrators should implement network segmentation to limit access to database servers and reduce the attack surface for potential exploitation. Monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual database behavior or transaction patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of proper access controls and privilege management can help reduce the risk of unauthorized administrators exploiting this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring and alerting systems to detect potential exploitation attempts before they cause significant service disruption. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar issues in other database components and ensure comprehensive security coverage across the entire database infrastructure.