CVE-2017-3641 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: Server: DML). Supported versions that are affected are 5.5.56 and earlier, 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 • 01/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3641 resides within the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL, specifically affecting the Server: DML subcomponent. This issue impacts multiple version ranges including 5.5.56 and earlier, 5.6.36 and earlier, and 5.7.18 and earlier versions of the database server. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with high privileges and network access can successfully compromise affected systems through multiple network protocols. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system assigns a base score of 4.9 with a vector of AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H, which demonstrates that while the attack requires high privileges, the accessibility is low and the potential impact on system availability is significant.
The technical flaw manifests as a condition that allows authenticated attackers with elevated privileges to cause complete denial of service conditions on MySQL Server instances. When successfully exploited, this vulnerability enables attackers to either hang the server or trigger frequently repeatable crashes that can completely disable database services. The nature of this vulnerability suggests it operates within the Data Manipulation Language processing subsystem where database queries are executed and managed. Attackers with sufficient privileges can craft specific database operations that trigger internal server errors leading to system instability and complete service disruption.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability represents a serious availability threat to database environments that rely on MySQL Server. The ability to cause repeated crashes or system hangs can result in significant downtime for applications dependent on database services, potentially affecting business operations and data availability. The requirement for high privileged access indicates that this vulnerability is more likely to be exploited by insiders or attackers who have already gained administrative access to database systems. However, the ease of exploitation means that even limited privileged users can potentially trigger these conditions, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for environments where privilege escalation is possible.
Security professionals should prioritize patching affected MySQL Server installations to mitigate this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to versions that are not affected by this issue, specifically those beyond the mentioned version thresholds. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of privilege escalation attacks. Monitoring for unusual database server behavior and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses memory corruption issues, and represents a potential ATT&CK technique under T1499 for network denial of service attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current database software versions and implementing proper privilege management to prevent unauthorized access to administrative database functions that could lead to system compromise.