CVE-2017-10313 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: Group Replication GCS). 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).
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10313 resides within the MySQL Server component, specifically within the Group Replication Global Configuration Service (GCS) subcomponent. This flaw affects MySQL versions 5.7.19 and earlier, representing a significant security concern for database administrators managing these systems. The vulnerability operates at a foundational level within MySQL's replication architecture, where the Group Replication feature enables high availability and fault tolerance through distributed consensus mechanisms. The affected GCS component handles critical communication protocols necessary for maintaining cluster consistency and coordination among database nodes.
This vulnerability represents a high-privilege attack vector that can be exploited by adversaries with network access through multiple protocols, indicating that the flaw exists at the network communication layer rather than requiring local system access. The technical implementation flaw manifests in how the Group Replication GCS processes certain network communications, leading to potential buffer overflows or improper input validation during message handling. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable suggests that attackers can leverage relatively straightforward techniques to trigger the underlying flaw, potentially involving malformed network packets or crafted replication messages that cause the system to enter an unstable state.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially cause complete denial of service conditions that can result in system hangs or frequently repeatable crashes. This availability impact severely compromises the reliability of MySQL cluster deployments, particularly in production environments where high availability is critical. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability can cause the MySQL Server to become unresponsive or crash repeatedly, effectively rendering the database service unavailable to legitimate users and applications. The CVSS 3.0 base score of 4.9 reflects the moderate to high severity of this availability impact, with the attack complexity being low and requiring only network access from a privileged attacker position.
The attack surface for this vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and denial of service tactics, where adversaries can leverage network-based access to escalate their privileges within the database environment and subsequently disrupt service availability. This vulnerability particularly affects environments using MySQL Group Replication, where multiple database nodes maintain synchronized state through the GCS protocol. Organizations implementing distributed database architectures with MySQL clusters face heightened risk from this vulnerability, as the impact extends beyond individual server compromise to affect entire cluster availability. The affected versions represent a substantial portion of MySQL 5.7 deployments, making this vulnerability particularly widespread across enterprise environments.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL versions to 5.7.20 or later, where Oracle has addressed the underlying implementation flaw in the Group Replication GCS component. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit network access to MySQL services, particularly restricting access to the Group Replication communication ports. Monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns in database service availability and replication communication, enabling rapid response to potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing redundant database clusters or failover mechanisms to minimize the impact of potential service disruptions. The vulnerability's classification under CWE categories related to input validation and resource management highlights the importance of proper code review practices and security testing for database server components.