CVE-2016-3495 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle MySQL 5.7.13 and earlier allows remote administrators to affect availability via vectors related to Server: InnoDB.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3495 represents a critical availability issue within Oracle MySQL database systems affecting versions 5.7.13 and earlier. This flaw specifically impacts the InnoDB storage engine component of the MySQL server, which is responsible for handling transactional database operations and maintaining data integrity. The vulnerability allows remote administrative attackers to disrupt service availability, potentially leading to complete system unavailability or denial of service conditions that can severely impact database operations and business continuity.
This unspecified vulnerability falls under the category of availability attacks that target the core database engine functionality. The InnoDB storage engine's susceptibility to this issue indicates a fundamental flaw in how the system handles certain administrative operations or transaction processing scenarios. The attack vector being remote administration suggests that malicious actors can exploit this weakness from external networks without requiring local system access, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in production environments where database administrators might need to perform remote maintenance tasks.
The technical implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple service disruption. When exploited, the flaw can cause the MySQL server to crash or become unresponsive, forcing database administrators to manually restart services and potentially leading to data loss or corruption. The InnoDB engine's complex transaction handling mechanisms and its role as the default storage engine for MySQL make this vulnerability particularly impactful since most database operations depend on its stability. This type of attack directly violates the availability principle of the CIA triad and can result in significant business disruption when critical database services become inaccessible.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK tactics including privilege escalation and denial of service, where attackers can leverage administrative access to compromise system availability. The CWE classification for such issues typically relates to weaknesses in resource management or system stability where insufficient error handling or resource exhaustion occurs during administrative operations. Organizations with remote database administration capabilities are particularly at risk since the attack can be executed without physical access to the systems, making traditional security controls less effective against this specific threat vector.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-3495 extends to enterprise environments where database availability is critical for business operations. System administrators may experience unexpected service interruptions during routine maintenance windows or when executing administrative commands, leading to extended downtime and potential data integrity issues. Recovery from such incidents typically requires manual intervention including service restarts, potential data recovery procedures, and thorough system checks to ensure no corruption has occurred. The vulnerability's remote nature means that organizations must implement robust network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to unauthorized administrative access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected MySQL versions to the latest available releases that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement network access controls to restrict administrative access to database servers, particularly limiting remote administration to trusted networks and implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts. Regular monitoring of database server logs for unusual administrative activity and implementing automated alerting systems can help detect exploitation attempts before they cause significant disruption. Additionally, maintaining regular backup procedures and disaster recovery plans ensures that organizations can quickly restore services if the vulnerability is successfully exploited, reducing the overall impact on business operations and data availability.