CVE-2018-2645 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: Server: Performance Schema). Supported versions that are affected are 5.6.38 and prior and 5.7.20 and prior. 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 access to critical data or complete access to all MySQL Server accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 4.9 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2645 resides within the MySQL Server component, specifically within the Performance Schema subcomponent. This flaw affects Oracle MySQL versions 5.6.38 and earlier, as well as 5.7.20 and earlier, representing a significant security weakness that has persisted across multiple major releases. The Performance Schema is a feature designed to monitor server performance and provide detailed information about server operations, making it an integral part of MySQL's monitoring infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with high privileges and network access can leverage this weakness to compromise the target system.
This security flaw operates through multiple network protocols, creating an attack surface that extends beyond traditional database access methods. The vulnerability's CVSS 3.0 base score of 4.9 reflects the moderate severity of the threat, with a high confidentiality impact rating of 8.2. The attack vector requires network access and high privileges, suggesting that an attacker must already have elevated access rights to the system before exploiting this vulnerability. This characteristic places the risk in the context of privilege escalation scenarios where an attacker with existing access could leverage this weakness to gain further unauthorized access to sensitive data. The vulnerability's impact potential includes unauthorized access to critical data and complete access to all MySQL Server accessible data, representing a significant threat to database security and data integrity.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-2645 extends beyond simple data compromise, potentially enabling attackers to extract sensitive information from database systems that may contain personal data, financial records, or proprietary business information. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and demonstrates how performance monitoring features can inadvertently create security weaknesses when not properly secured. The attack pattern associated with this vulnerability fits within the ATT&CK framework under the T1078 technique for Valid Accounts, as it requires high privileged access to exploit effectively. Organizations running affected MySQL versions face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized data access, particularly in environments where database administrators have elevated privileges and network access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected MySQL installations to the latest supported versions that contain the necessary security fixes. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the attack surface and reduce the likelihood of privilege escalation. Regular security assessments and monitoring of database performance schema activities can help detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should maintain comprehensive backup strategies and implement proper access control policies to minimize the impact of potential exploitation. The vulnerability underscores the importance of regularly updating database software and maintaining awareness of security advisories from vendors like Oracle. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on suspicious access patterns to performance schema components. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in database infrastructure components. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in development environments before deployment to production systems to ensure compatibility and prevent service disruptions.