CVE-2017-10203 in MySQL Connectors
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Connectors component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: Connector/Net). Supported versions that are affected are 6.9.9 and earlier. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise MySQL Connectors. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of MySQL Connectors. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 5.3 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10203 resides within Oracle MySQL Connectors component, specifically the Connector/Net subcomponent that facilitates .NET applications' connectivity to MySQL databases. This flaw affects versions 6.9.9 and earlier, representing a significant security weakness in database connectivity infrastructure that has persisted across multiple release cycles. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers require minimal prerequisites to leverage this weakness, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where database connectivity is fundamental to application operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authentication mechanisms within the Connector/Net component. Attackers can exploit this weakness through multiple network protocols without requiring authentication credentials, which fundamentally undermines the security model of database connectivity. The vulnerability manifests as a partial denial of service condition where unauthorized actors can disrupt database connector operations, though the impact remains limited to availability rather than complete system compromise. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the availability category of the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, with a base score of 5.3 indicating moderate severity.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-10203 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially affect business continuity and data accessibility. When attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability, they can cause partial denial of service conditions that may result in application slowdowns or temporary unavailability of database connectivity for legitimate users. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that any network-accessible system running vulnerable MySQL Connectors could be compromised, creating widespread potential impact across enterprise environments. Organizations utilizing .NET applications that depend on MySQL connectivity face elevated risk profiles, particularly in cloud deployments or distributed systems where network exposure is inherent.
Security professionals should note this vulnerability's alignment with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1499 (Endpoint Denial of Service) which reflect the attack patterns associated with this specific weakness. The vulnerability's CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L) indicates network-based exploitation with low attack complexity and no privilege requirements, making it particularly attractive to automated attack tools. Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions, network segmentation to limit exposure, and implementation of proper access controls around database connectivity points. Organizations should also consider monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts and implement network-based intrusion detection systems to identify potential attacks targeting this specific vulnerability.