CVE-2016-5439 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle MySQL 5.6.30 and earlier and 5.7.12 and earlier allows remote administrators to affect availability via vectors related to Server: Privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5439 represents a critical availability risk within Oracle MySQL database systems affecting versions 5.6.30 and earlier, as well as 5.7.12 and earlier. This issue specifically targets the server privileges component of the database management system, creating potential for remote administrators to exploit the weakness and disrupt system availability. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability description suggests a complex underlying flaw that may involve multiple attack vectors or require specific conditions to be successfully exploited.
The technical flaw manifests within the privilege handling mechanisms of MySQL servers, where remote administrators with appropriate access levels can potentially manipulate system resources to cause service disruption or complete system unavailability. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of privilege escalation and access control failures that are commonly classified under CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it targets administrative functions that should be protected from unauthorized manipulation, yet allows for potential disruption of database availability.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on MySQL databases for critical business operations. The ability for remote administrators to affect availability means that attackers could potentially cause denial of service conditions that would impact database accessibility, data integrity, and overall system reliability. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would likely map to privilege escalation techniques and denial of service tactics, where adversaries leverage administrative access to disrupt services. Organizations may experience downtime, data access restrictions, and potential business disruption when this vulnerability is exploited in the wild.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5439 should focus on immediate patching of affected MySQL versions to the latest available releases that contain fixes for the privilege handling issues. Network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit administrative access to only trusted personnel, while implementing comprehensive monitoring for suspicious administrative activities. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough privilege audits to ensure that administrative accounts follow the principle of least privilege, reducing the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar weaknesses in database configurations and access controls.