CVE-2017-3308 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: Server: DML). Supported versions that are affected are 5.5.54 and earlier, 5.6.35 and earlier and 5.7.17 and earlier. Easily "exploitable" vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise MySQL Server. While the vulnerability is in MySQL Server, attacks may significantly impact additional products. 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 7.7 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3308 represents a critical availability threat within Oracle MySQL Server's DML (Data Manipulation Language) subsystem. This weakness affects multiple version ranges including MySQL 5.5.54 and earlier, 5.6.35 and earlier, and 5.7.17 and earlier, making it particularly widespread across the MySQL ecosystem. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with minimal privileges and network access can leverage this flaw, which aligns with CWE-119 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference) categories. The attack vector specifically utilizes multiple network protocols, suggesting that the vulnerability can be exploited through various communication channels that MySQL supports.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests as a condition that allows attackers to cause complete denial of service through either hanging or repeatedly crashing the MySQL Server instance. This behavior directly maps to the CVSS 3.0 scoring system's high availability impact rating of 7.7, indicating that successful exploitation results in a complete system outage. The vulnerability's low privilege requirement means that even users with minimal database permissions can trigger this condition, making it particularly dangerous in multi-tenant environments or when default configurations are used. The fact that this vulnerability can impact additional products suggests that the server crash or hang conditions may propagate to dependent systems or applications that rely on MySQL connectivity.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2017-3308 extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially affect business continuity and data availability. The ability to cause frequent repeatable crashes means that organizations may experience ongoing service degradation rather than isolated incidents, leading to extended downtime and potential data loss. The vulnerability's network-based exploitation capability means that attackers can potentially compromise systems from external networks, making it particularly concerning for publicly accessible databases. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 (Endpoint Denial of Service) and represents a significant threat to database availability. Organizations utilizing affected MySQL versions face the risk of extended service interruptions that could affect critical business applications, customer access, and overall system reliability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-3308 should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL versions to the latest available releases, which would address the underlying DML processing flaw. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of MySQL servers to untrusted networks, reducing the attack surface. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring and alerting mechanisms specifically designed to detect unusual server behavior or crash patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of affected MySQL versions within the infrastructure. The implementation of database firewalls and connection throttling can provide additional layers of protection while patches are being deployed. Organizations should also consider implementing automated backup and recovery procedures to minimize the impact of potential exploitation events, ensuring that service restoration can occur quickly even if the vulnerability is successfully exploited.