CVE-2016-8283 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle MySQL 5.5.51 and earlier, 5.6.32 and earlier, and 5.7.14 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to affect availability via vectors related to Server: Types.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8283 represents a critical availability threat within Oracle MySQL database systems across multiple version ranges including 5.5.51 and earlier, 5.6.32 and earlier, and 5.7.14 and earlier. This issue affects the server component of MySQL and specifically relates to type handling mechanisms within the database engine. The vulnerability is classified as remote and authenticated, meaning that an attacker must possess valid credentials to exploit the flaw, but can execute the attack from a remote location without requiring physical access to the database server. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability description indicates that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, though it clearly involves server-side type processing that can be manipulated to cause system instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the server's handling of data types, particularly when processing certain query inputs or data structures that involve type conversions or comparisons. When an authenticated user submits specifically crafted requests that manipulate type-related operations, the MySQL server may experience abnormal behavior that leads to service disruption or complete unavailability. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of denial of service attacks that target database server stability and can potentially be escalated to cause complete system outages. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the input validation and type handling mechanisms within the MySQL server implementation, which can be exploited to cause memory corruption or resource exhaustion conditions.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-8283 extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially compromise the entire database infrastructure availability. Organizations running affected MySQL versions face significant risk of service degradation or complete database unavailability, which can result in substantial business disruption, data access limitations, and potential financial losses. The authenticated nature of the attack means that insider threats or compromised accounts pose a particular risk, as attackers with legitimate access can exploit this vulnerability to cause system-wide availability issues. This vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in production environments where database availability is critical for business operations, potentially leading to extended downtime and service level agreement violations.
Security practitioners should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL installations to address this vulnerability, as Oracle released updates specifically targeting this issue in subsequent versions. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive testing of patches in non-production environments before deployment to ensure compatibility with existing applications and workflows. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of authenticated attacks, while monitoring database server logs for suspicious activity patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service and CWE-400 for unspecified vulnerability conditions, highlighting the need for robust input validation and proper error handling mechanisms. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar type handling issues within database systems and related infrastructure components.