CVE-2016-5631 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: Memcached.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5631 represents a significant availability risk within Oracle MySQL database systems, specifically affecting versions 5.7.13 and earlier. This weakness resides within the MySQL server's interaction with Memcached components, creating a potential attack vector that remote administrators could exploit to disrupt service availability. The unspecified nature of the exact flaw suggests a complex interaction between MySQL's core functionality and its Memcached integration mechanisms, which typically serve to improve performance through caching operations. The vulnerability's classification as affecting availability rather than confidentiality or integrity indicates that attackers could potentially cause system downtime or denial of service conditions. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in production environments where database availability is critical for business operations, as it could enable attackers to render database services inaccessible to legitimate users.
The technical flaw manifests through the server's handling of Memcached integration within MySQL's architecture, where improper validation or processing of Memcached-related operations could lead to system instability or resource exhaustion. This vulnerability likely involves memory management issues or improper error handling when MySQL processes requests through Memcached interfaces, potentially leading to memory leaks, buffer overflows, or other resource-related failures. The attack surface expands when considering that remote administrators could leverage this weakness, suggesting that the vulnerability may not require local system access but could be exploited over network connections. Such a scenario would align with common attack patterns documented in the attack mitigation frameworks where remote code execution or availability disruption vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous due to their accessibility and potential impact. The Memcached integration in MySQL typically provides caching capabilities that improve query performance by storing frequently accessed data in memory, but this feature becomes a liability when the underlying implementation contains flaws that could be systematically exploited.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-5631 extends beyond simple service disruption, potentially affecting business continuity and data availability for organizations relying on MySQL databases. When attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability, they could cause database servers to become unresponsive, crash, or require manual intervention to restore functionality. This disruption could cascade through applications that depend on database connectivity, affecting multiple services and potentially leading to extended downtime. The vulnerability's potential for remote exploitation means that attackers could target systems from outside the organization's network perimeter, increasing the attack surface and reducing the effectiveness of traditional network security controls. Organizations utilizing MySQL with Memcached integration would face significant operational challenges, including increased incident response times, potential data loss if systems crash during critical operations, and the need for immediate patching or workaround implementations. The impact is particularly severe given that MySQL is widely deployed across enterprise environments, making this vulnerability a high-priority concern for security teams managing database infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5631 should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL versions to address the underlying Memcached integration flaw. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to MySQL servers and restrict Memcached interfaces to trusted administrative networks. Disabling Memcached integration within MySQL configurations when not actively required provides an additional layer of defense, as this would prevent exploitation of the vulnerability through the affected component. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual memory usage patterns or connection spikes that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's characteristics align with common attack patterns documented in MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly in the execution and privilege escalation domains where attackers leverage database vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access or disrupt services. Compliance with industry standards such as those defined in CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) for database security would help organizations identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities proactively. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should include evaluation of database server configurations to ensure that Memcached integration is properly secured and that access controls are appropriately enforced to prevent unauthorized exploitation of such availability-focused vulnerabilities.