CVE-2016-3486 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle MySQL 5.6.30 and earlier and 5.7.12 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to affect availability via vectors related to Server: FTS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3486 represents a significant availability threat within Oracle MySQL database systems affecting versions 5.6.30 and earlier, as well as 5.7.12 and earlier. This issue resides within the Full Text Search functionality of the MySQL server component, specifically impacting the server-side processing capabilities. The vulnerability enables authenticated remote attackers to disrupt service availability, potentially leading to system downtime and operational disruption for database-dependent applications.
This flaw falls under the category of availability impact as defined by the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, specifically categorized as CWE-400 which encompasses unspecified weaknesses that can lead to denial of service conditions. The vulnerability exploits the Full Text Search (FTS) subsystem within MySQL, which processes text-based queries and indexing operations. The attack vector requires authentication, meaning that an attacker must possess valid credentials to execute the exploit, though this does not significantly reduce the threat level given that database credentials are often widely distributed within organizations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of certain Full Text Search operations that can cause the MySQL server process to become unresponsive or terminate unexpectedly. When authenticated users execute specific search queries or indexing operations within the FTS framework, the server fails to properly validate or process the input, leading to resource exhaustion or internal state corruption. This behavior creates a denial of service condition that affects the overall availability of the database service, impacting legitimate users who require access to the database for their operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risk to database administrators and system operators who manage MySQL installations. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as it can affect business continuity and data availability for applications that depend on MySQL for their operations. The requirement for authentication means that the vulnerability is less likely to be exploited by casual attackers, but it remains a significant concern for environments where privileged database accounts may be compromised or where insider threats exist. Organizations running affected MySQL versions face potential downtime and service disruption that can affect multiple applications and services relying on the database infrastructure.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly under the initial access and execution phases where authenticated users can leverage their privileges to execute malicious operations. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly specialized database features like Full Text Search can contain critical flaws that affect overall system availability. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability by upgrading to MySQL versions that have addressed the issue, typically those beyond the affected releases mentioned in the CVE. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities by restricting access to database systems and reducing the attack surface for authenticated users who might attempt to exploit these conditions.