CVE-2018-2773 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: Client programs). Supported versions that are affected are 5.5.59 and prior, 5.6.39 and prior and 5.7.21 and prior. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows high privileged attacker with logon to the infrastructure where MySQL Server executes 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 4.1 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2773 resides within the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL, specifically affecting client programs within the MySQL ecosystem. This flaw impacts multiple version ranges including MySQL 5.5.59 and earlier, 5.6.39 and earlier, and 5.7.21 and earlier versions. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while it requires specific conditions to be successfully leveraged, the potential impact when achieved can be severe. The attack vector requires a high-privileged attacker who already possesses logon credentials to the system infrastructure where MySQL Server operates, establishing a baseline of pre-existing access that reduces the attack surface complexity but does not eliminate the risk entirely.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests as a flaw in how MySQL Server handles certain client program interactions, specifically within the authentication and connection management processes. When exploited, the vulnerability allows an attacker with sufficient privileges to cause the MySQL Server to hang or experience frequent crashes that can result in a complete denial of service condition. This occurs through manipulation of client program parameters or connection sequences that trigger memory corruption or resource exhaustion within the server process. The vulnerability's impact is categorized as availability-focused with a CVSS 3.0 base score of 4.1, indicating moderate severity in terms of availability impact. The attack complexity is rated as high, requiring significant technical expertise and access privileges, while the privilege requirement is also high, suggesting that only authenticated users with substantial system access can effectively exploit this weakness.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-2773 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the entire database infrastructure's reliability and availability. Organizations running affected MySQL versions face significant risk of operational downtime, which can cascade into broader business disruptions depending on their dependency on MySQL services. The vulnerability's ability to cause complete server crashes means that database operations may become entirely unavailable until manual intervention occurs, potentially requiring server restarts and data recovery procedures. This type of vulnerability particularly affects environments where database availability is critical for business operations, such as financial services, e-commerce platforms, or any system requiring continuous database access. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and may also relate to CWE-125, indicating potential out-of-bounds read conditions that could contribute to the server instability. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability corresponds to techniques involving privilege escalation and denial of service, potentially enabling adversaries to maintain persistence through continued access to compromised systems while simultaneously disrupting legitimate service availability.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through patching or upgrading to unaffected MySQL versions, as the vulnerability's availability impact makes it particularly dangerous in production environments. System administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual server behavior or connection patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while also ensuring that access controls remain strictly enforced to limit the potential attack surface. The vulnerability's requirement for high-privileged access means that proper identity and access management practices, including principle of least privilege enforcement and regular credential rotation, become critical defensive measures. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of exploitation and establish robust backup and recovery procedures to minimize downtime in case of successful attacks. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should include verification of MySQL server versions and patch status to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining unaddressed in the environment.