CVE-2016-5633 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: Performance Schema, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-8290.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5633 represents a critical availability issue within Oracle MySQL database systems affecting versions 5.7.13 and earlier. This flaw specifically targets the Server component of MySQL and operates through the Performance Schema functionality, which is designed to monitor server performance and provide detailed operational metrics. The vulnerability enables remote administrative attackers to disrupt service availability, making it a significant concern for database administrators and system operators who rely on MySQL for critical business operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of certain Performance Schema operations that can lead to resource exhaustion or system instability when exploited by malicious actors with administrative privileges. The Performance Schema in MySQL is a sophisticated monitoring system that collects detailed information about server execution, including thread execution times, file I/O operations, and other performance metrics. When an attacker with administrative access can manipulate these monitoring functions inappropriately, they can potentially cause the database server to become unresponsive or crash entirely.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risk to database availability and business continuity. Organizations running affected MySQL versions face potential downtime and service disruption when this vulnerability is exploited. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can potentially exploit this weakness from external networks without requiring physical access or local system compromise. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where database administrators may have broad network access or where security controls are insufficient to prevent unauthorized administrative access.
The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-119, which addresses weaknesses in memory management and resource handling, particularly when systems fail to properly validate or sanitize inputs to performance monitoring components. This weakness can lead to resource exhaustion scenarios where the Performance Schema functionality consumes excessive system resources or causes memory corruption that affects overall database stability. The attack pattern associated with this vulnerability can be categorized under the ATT&CK framework as a Denial of Service (T1499) technique, specifically targeting database server availability through performance monitoring component manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5633 should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL installations to the latest available versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit administrative privileges and reduce the attack surface. Monitoring for unusual Performance Schema activity or resource consumption patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues within the database infrastructure. System administrators should also consider disabling Performance Schema functionality if it is not essential for operations, as this can provide an additional layer of protection against exploitation while maintaining core database functionality.