CVE-2017-3586 in MySQL Connectors
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Connectors component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: Connector/J). Supported versions that are affected are 5.1.41 and earlier. Easily "exploitable" vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise MySQL Connectors. While the vulnerability is in MySQL Connectors, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of MySQL Connectors accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of MySQL Connectors accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 6.4 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3586 resides within Oracle MySQL Connectors component, specifically affecting Connector/J which serves as the official JDBC driver for MySQL database connectivity. This flaw manifests in versions 5.1.41 and earlier, representing a significant security weakness that impacts the foundational database access mechanisms used by numerous applications. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with minimal privileges and network access can successfully compromise the system, making it particularly concerning for organizations relying on MySQL connectivity. The affected component operates as a critical bridge between Java applications and MySQL databases, creating a potential attack surface that extends beyond the immediate MySQL Connectors to encompass dependent systems that utilize this connectivity layer.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authentication mechanisms within the Connector/J implementation, allowing malicious actors to manipulate database access parameters through network protocols. Attackers with low privilege levels and network connectivity can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to database operations, specifically enabling unauthorized update, insert, and delete operations on sensitive data within the connectors' accessible scope. The vulnerability's impact extends to both confidentiality and integrity aspects of the security triad, as attackers can not only read restricted data but also modify database content through the compromised connection mechanisms. This represents a direct violation of access control principles and can be categorized under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, highlighting the fundamental flaw in privilege enforcement mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-3586 extends far beyond the immediate MySQL Connectors component, potentially affecting multiple downstream systems that rely on the compromised database connectivity. Organizations utilizing applications that depend on Connector/J for database access face significant risk of data compromise, as successful exploitation can result in unauthorized data manipulation and information disclosure. The CVSS 3.0 score of 6.4 indicates a moderate to high severity threat level, with the vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N demonstrating that network-based attacks with low complexity and limited privileges can cause considerable damage to both data integrity and confidentiality. The scalable nature of this vulnerability means that a single compromised connection point can potentially affect entire application ecosystems that depend on MySQL connectivity, creating cascading security implications. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform data exfiltration, modify critical business data, or establish persistent access patterns through the compromised database connection mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-3586 require immediate patching of affected MySQL Connector/J versions to the latest available releases, which address the underlying authentication and input validation flaws. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of MySQL Connectors to untrusted networks, utilizing firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious database connection patterns. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting database user permissions and implementing role-based access controls to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems utilizing affected Connector/J versions and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized database access attempts. Security teams should also review and update their incident response procedures to ensure rapid identification and containment of potential exploitation activities, while implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous connection patterns or unauthorized data manipulation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing comprehensive security monitoring across all database connectivity components, aligning with ATT&CK framework techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation through database connections.