CVE-2017-10311 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: Server: FTS). Supported versions that are affected are 5.7.19 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-2017-10311 resides within the MySQL Server component, specifically within the Full-Text Search (FTS) subsystem of Oracle MySQL. This flaw affects versions 5.7.19 and earlier, representing a significant security concern for database administrators and system operators who rely on MySQL for critical data operations. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with minimal technical expertise can leverage this weakness, particularly when they possess high-privilege network access to the target system. The attack vector operates through multiple network protocols, expanding the potential attack surface and making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where MySQL servers are accessible over networks. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system assigns this vulnerability a base score of 4.9, which falls into the medium severity category, though the availability impact assessment of 'H' (high) indicates that successful exploitation can lead to complete denial of service conditions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of certain full-text search operations within the MySQL Server's FTS subsystem. When specific search queries are processed through the full-text search functionality, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters, leading to potential buffer overflows or memory corruption conditions. This flaw allows an attacker with elevated privileges to craft malicious queries that can trigger abnormal program termination, causing the MySQL server process to hang or crash repeatedly. The vulnerability specifically targets the server's ability to maintain stable operation, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where database availability is critical for business operations. The attack requires high-privilege network access, suggesting that the attacker likely possesses legitimate administrative credentials or has exploited other vulnerabilities to gain elevated access to the MySQL server. The combination of network access with high privileges creates a scenario where attackers can systematically target the FTS functionality to destabilize the database server.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-10311 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially catastrophic consequences for database-dependent applications. When the MySQL server experiences frequent crashes or hangs due to this vulnerability, it can lead to complete service outages that affect multiple applications and users simultaneously. The repeated nature of the crashes makes it particularly challenging for system administrators to maintain service availability, as the server may become unstable and require frequent manual restarts. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad, potentially causing significant business disruption and financial loss. Organizations relying on MySQL for mission-critical applications face substantial risk from this vulnerability, as database downtime can cascade into broader system failures. The impact is further exacerbated by the fact that the vulnerability affects a core database functionality, making it difficult to isolate and remediate without potentially disrupting database operations. Security teams must consider the broader implications of this vulnerability on their incident response procedures and disaster recovery plans, as the instability it creates can mask other security issues or complicate forensic analysis.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-10311 should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL versions to 5.7.20 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the attack surface, ensuring that only authorized personnel have high-privilege network access to MySQL servers. Monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of database crashes or service interruptions that may indicate exploitation attempts. Database administrators should consider implementing query filtering and input validation mechanisms to prevent malicious FTS queries from reaching the vulnerable subsystem. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and may also relate to CWE-125, representing out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and denial of service, with potential lateral movement opportunities if attackers can leverage the instability to access other systems. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected MySQL versions within their infrastructure and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk assessment. Regular security audits and penetration testing should include evaluation of database server stability and resilience against such availability-focused attacks. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust change management processes to ensure timely deployment of security fixes across all database systems.