CVE-2017-10279 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: Server: Optimizer). Supported versions that are affected are 5.6.36 and earlier and 5.7.18 and earlier. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows high privileged attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise MySQL Server. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a hang or frequently repeatable crash (complete DOS) of MySQL Server. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 4.9 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10279 resides within the MySQL Server component, specifically within the Server: Optimizer subcomponent, affecting critical database infrastructure used by organizations worldwide. This weakness manifests in versions 5.6.36 and earlier, as well as 5.7.18 and earlier, representing a significant risk to database availability and system stability. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with high privileges and network access can leverage this flaw through multiple protocols to compromise the target MySQL Server. The attack vector requires minimal complexity for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous in environments where database administrators may have elevated access rights or where network boundaries are not properly secured. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system assigns a base score of 4.9, which reflects a moderate severity level with specific focus on availability impacts, indicating that successful exploitation can lead to complete denial of service conditions. The vulnerability's characteristics align with CWE-121, which addresses buffer overflow conditions that can lead to system instability and service disruption, though the specific implementation appears to involve optimization routines rather than traditional buffer management issues.
The technical flaw within the MySQL Server optimizer represents a critical weakness in how the database engine processes certain query optimization scenarios, particularly when handling complex or malformed input data structures. This vulnerability allows an attacker with elevated privileges to craft specific database operations that trigger memory management issues within the optimizer module, resulting in system hangs or repeated crashes that effectively render the MySQL service unavailable. The nature of the flaw suggests that the optimizer's internal state management or memory allocation routines contain conditions where malformed query parameters or specific execution paths can cause the server process to enter an unrecoverable state. The complete denial of service condition occurs because the server cannot properly recover from these optimizer-induced failures, requiring manual intervention or system restart to restore normal operations. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple service interruption as it can affect business continuity and data availability, particularly in mission-critical applications where database uptime is essential for operational success.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-10279 extends significantly beyond the immediate technical disruption it causes, as database service outages can cascade through entire enterprise systems and applications that depend on MySQL for data persistence and transactional integrity. Organizations utilizing affected MySQL versions face substantial risk of service degradation or complete system unavailability, potentially affecting customer-facing applications, backend processing systems, and critical business operations. The vulnerability's requirement for high privileged access limits its exploitation potential compared to fully remote vulnerabilities, but it still represents a serious threat in environments where privilege escalation or insider threats exist. Attackers with legitimate administrative access or those who have gained such access through other means can leverage this vulnerability to cause sustained disruption, making it particularly dangerous in environments with compromised administrative credentials or insufficient access controls. The repeated crash scenario indicates that the vulnerability may be exploitable multiple times, potentially allowing attackers to maintain persistent disruption of database services without requiring extensive re-exploitation efforts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-10279 should prioritize immediate patching and updating of affected MySQL Server installations to versions that have addressed the optimizer-related vulnerabilities. Organizations must ensure that all systems running MySQL 5.6.36 or earlier and 5.7.18 or earlier are upgraded to supported releases that contain the necessary security fixes. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to restrict access to database servers, particularly limiting the number of users with high-privilege accounts and implementing strict authentication requirements. Monitoring and logging configurations should be enhanced to detect unusual database activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, including monitoring for repeated connection failures or service restarts. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would likely map to the privilege escalation and defense evasion tactics, where attackers use database-specific vulnerabilities to maintain persistent access and avoid detection. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of affected software versions within the organization's infrastructure, ensuring comprehensive coverage across all database systems and applications that rely on MySQL for data operations.