CVE-2016-5627 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle MySQL 5.6.31 and earlier and 5.7.13 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to affect availability via vectors related to Server: InnoDB.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2022
This vulnerability resides within Oracle MySQL database systems and represents a significant availability threat that affects multiple version ranges including 5.6.31 and earlier releases as well as 5.7.13 and earlier versions. The flaw specifically manifests within the Server component of MySQL with direct implications to the InnoDB storage engine which serves as the default and most widely used storage engine for MySQL databases. The vulnerability is classified as remote and authenticated, meaning that an attacker must possess valid credentials to exploit the issue but can execute the attack from any network location without requiring physical access to the database server. This characteristic significantly broadens the attack surface and makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where database access is granted to multiple users or applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves specific vectors related to the InnoDB storage engine implementation within the MySQL server architecture. While the exact technical mechanism remains unspecified in the CVE description, such vulnerabilities typically involve resource exhaustion, memory corruption, or denial of service conditions that can cause the database server to crash or become unresponsive. The InnoDB engine's complex transaction handling, locking mechanisms, and storage management systems provide potential attack surfaces where malformed input or specific operational sequences could trigger system instability. This type of vulnerability often relates to improper input validation, inadequate error handling, or resource management flaws that can be exploited to consume system resources or cause unexpected behavior in the database engine. The classification aligns with common CWE categories such as CWE-400 for unspecified resource exhaustion or CWE-129 for improper validation of input boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire database operations and application availability. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability can cause the MySQL server to become unresponsive, crash, or require manual restart, leading to extended downtime for applications that depend on database services. This can result in significant business disruption, data access delays, and potential loss of transactions during the period when the database service is unavailable. Organizations relying on MySQL for critical business operations may experience cascading effects throughout their IT infrastructure, particularly in environments where multiple applications share the same database server or where database availability is a critical component of business continuity planning. The vulnerability particularly affects systems where database access is granted to multiple authenticated users, as the attack vector does not require special privileges beyond valid authentication credentials.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching and system hardening measures. Oracle has released patches for affected versions, and organizations should prioritize upgrading to supported MySQL versions that contain the necessary fixes. In environments where immediate patching is not feasible, administrators can implement additional monitoring and alerting for unusual database behavior or resource consumption patterns. Network segmentation and access control measures can help limit potential exploitation by restricting database access to only authorized users and applications. The implementation of proper database monitoring tools can provide early detection of resource exhaustion or abnormal behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and address similar issues within the database infrastructure. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date database software and following security best practices for database administration and access control. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous patterns and potential exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under the T1499 category for network denial of service, while the CWE classification suggests it may fall under resource management or input validation related weaknesses that require careful monitoring and mitigation strategies.