CVE-2018-2786 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: InnoDB). Supported versions that are affected are 5.7.21 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 ability to cause a hang or frequently repeatable crash (complete DOS) of MySQL Server as well as unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of MySQL Server accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 5.5 (Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2786 resides within the InnoDB storage engine of Oracle MySQL server, representing a critical security flaw that affects versions 5.7.21 and earlier. This vulnerability operates at the database engine level, specifically targeting the InnoDB component responsible for transactional database operations and storage management. The flaw manifests as a result of improper handling of certain database operations within the storage engine, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors with elevated privileges. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that the attack vector requires minimal technical expertise to execute successfully, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where database security is paramount.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and error handling within the InnoDB storage engine's processing routines. When specific database operations are executed against the affected MySQL server, the engine fails to properly validate or sanitize certain parameters, leading to a condition where malicious input can trigger unexpected behavior. This flaw enables attackers with high privileges and network access to manipulate the database server in ways that were not intended by the software design. The vulnerability's impact extends to both data integrity and system availability, as it can cause complete denial of service conditions through server hangs or crashes, while simultaneously allowing unauthorized modification of database contents.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on MySQL database systems for critical business operations. The CVSS 3.0 score of 5.5 reflects the balanced impact across integrity and availability domains, with the availability impact rated as high due to the potential for complete system crashes. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to either completely disrupt database services through repeated crashes or to perform unauthorized data modifications, potentially leading to data corruption or loss. The fact that this vulnerability requires only high privileged access makes it particularly concerning, as it suggests that internal threats or compromised accounts with elevated database permissions could be leveraged to cause substantial damage. The multiple protocol access vector indicates that the vulnerability can be exploited through various network communication channels, increasing the attack surface and making detection more challenging.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with upgrading to MySQL versions that have patched this flaw, specifically versions 5.7.22 and later. The patching process should be carefully planned and tested to ensure compatibility with existing database applications and workflows. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit the attack surface, particularly restricting network access to database servers and implementing strict authentication mechanisms. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database access patterns or potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129 which addresses improper validation of input, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1070.004 for indicator removal and T1489 for data destruction, as the vulnerability enables both system disruption and unauthorized data modification. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected systems and implement comprehensive incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts.