CVE-2016-5625 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle MySQL 5.7.14 and earlier allows local users to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via vectors related to Server: Packaging.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5625 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle MySQL database systems affecting versions 5.7.14 and earlier. This issue resides within the Server packaging component of the MySQL ecosystem, indicating that the vulnerability stems from how the database server software is packaged and deployed rather than from core database functionality. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability means that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, though the impact encompasses all three fundamental principles of information security confidentiality integrity and availability. Such a broad impact classification suggests that the flaw could potentially enable attackers to compromise database contents, modify critical system data, or disrupt service availability through the packaging artifacts.
The technical implications of this vulnerability are particularly concerning given that it affects local users, meaning that an attacker with access to the local system where MySQL is installed could exploit this weakness. This local privilege escalation scenario aligns with common attack patterns where attackers leverage misconfigurations or insecure packaging to gain elevated privileges. The Server: Packaging vector indicates that the vulnerability likely involves improper handling of installation files configuration scripts or system libraries during the MySQL installation process. This could manifest through insecure file permissions improper ownership settings or malicious code injection within the packaging components that are executed during installation or system updates.
From an operational standpoint this vulnerability presents significant risks to database administrators and security teams responsible for maintaining MySQL installations. The impact on confidentiality suggests that sensitive data stored within MySQL databases could be accessed by unauthorized local users, potentially exposing customer information financial records or proprietary business data. The integrity implications indicate that attackers might modify database contents or system configurations, leading to data corruption or unauthorized changes to critical database structures. Availability concerns suggest that the vulnerability could enable denial of service attacks against MySQL services, potentially causing database downtime or complete system unavailability. Organizations running affected MySQL versions face the risk of data breaches, service disruptions, and compliance violations that could result in substantial financial and reputational damage.
Security mitigations for CVE-2016-5625 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to MySQL 5.7.15 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper packaging and installation procedures. System administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of their MySQL installations to identify any potentially compromised systems and implement strict access controls limiting local user privileges. The remediation process should include thorough verification of installation packages and implementation of secure packaging practices that align with industry standards such as those outlined in the CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) catalog for software packaging vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized local access attempts and maintain detailed logs of system changes and installation activities. Additionally, following the ATT&CK framework's approach to understanding attack vectors, security teams should develop incident response procedures specifically addressing local privilege escalation scenarios and ensure regular security assessments of database server environments to prevent exploitation of similar packaging-related vulnerabilities.