CVE-2016-5632 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle MySQL 5.7.14 and earlier allows remote administrators to affect availability via vectors related to Server: Optimizer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5632 represents a critical availability issue within Oracle MySQL database systems affecting versions 5.7.14 and earlier. This flaw resides within the server optimizer component of the MySQL database engine, specifically impacting remote administrative operations that could potentially disrupt database availability. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability suggests it may involve complex interactions between multiple system components or specific edge cases within the optimizer logic that could lead to system instability or denial of service conditions. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in production environments where database availability is critical for business operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the MySQL server optimizer module which is responsible for determining the most efficient execution plan for database queries. When remote administrators perform certain operations that trigger the optimizer, the system may encounter conditions that cause unexpected behavior or system crashes. The optimizer's handling of specific query patterns or metadata operations could lead to memory corruption, infinite loops, or other destabilizing conditions that ultimately result in the database service becoming unavailable. This type of vulnerability typically leverages the privileged access of administrators to execute malicious operations that exploit inherent weaknesses in the query optimization logic.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to database availability and business continuity. Remote administrators who can exploit this vulnerability could potentially cause complete database outages, forcing organizations to implement emergency recovery procedures and potentially resulting in substantial financial losses. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it affects administrative operations that are essential for database management, meaning that legitimate administrative tasks could inadvertently trigger the vulnerability. Organizations relying on MySQL for critical applications face the risk of extended downtime during which database services remain unavailable until the vulnerability is patched or mitigated.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as aligning with CWE-119 which describes weaknesses related to memory safety and improper handling of system resources. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers network denial of service attacks and system resource compromise. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest Oracle security patches, restricting administrative access to trusted networks, and implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual administrative activity patterns. Additionally, database administrators should conduct thorough testing of patched versions in staging environments before deployment to ensure compatibility with existing applications and workflows. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for database systems and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that limit the impact of potential exploitation scenarios.