CVE-2018-2818 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: Server : Security : Privileges). Supported versions that are affected are 5.5.59 and prior, 5.6.39 and prior and 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. 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 • 03/02/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2818 resides within Oracle MySQL Server's privilege management subsystem, specifically affecting versions 5.5.59 and earlier, 5.6.39 and earlier, and 5.7.21 and earlier. This weakness manifests in the server's handling of privilege checks during certain database operations, creating a path for attackers with high privileges to exploit the system. The vulnerability operates through multiple network protocols, making it accessible to attackers who can establish network connections to the MySQL service. The CVSS score of 4.9 indicates a moderate to high severity impact, with particular emphasis on availability concerns as the primary attack vector. The vulnerability's classification under CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H reveals that network-based exploitation is possible with low complexity, requiring only high privilege levels from the attacker, and without user interaction, though it affects an unmodified system.
This security flaw represents a significant concern for database administrators and cybersecurity professionals as it allows a compromised high-privileged user to induce denial of service conditions on MySQL servers. The vulnerability's ability to cause complete system crashes or frequent hangs creates operational disruptions that can severely impact business continuity. Attackers exploiting this weakness can repeatedly trigger the crash conditions, potentially leading to sustained service degradation that affects database availability. The technical nature of the flaw suggests that it likely involves improper validation of privilege checks or memory handling during specific server operations, where the system fails to properly validate access permissions before executing potentially dangerous operations. Such behavior directly violates security principles established in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, particularly aligning with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control and CWE-121 which covers stack-based buffer overflow conditions.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-2818 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader system reliability concerns within database environments. Organizations relying on MySQL for critical applications face potential business interruptions when this vulnerability is exploited, particularly in environments where database availability is paramount for operations. The vulnerability's exploitation pattern suggests that it may be triggered through specific SQL commands or administrative operations that bypass normal privilege validation mechanisms. This creates a scenario where legitimate high-privileged users could be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to system resources or to cause system instability. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that MySQL servers are often deployed in enterprise environments where they serve as foundational components for numerous applications and services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL versions to the latest available releases. Organizations must implement comprehensive monitoring solutions to detect unusual patterns of database service instability or repeated crash conditions that could indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access control measures should be reinforced to limit the attack surface and reduce the likelihood of high-privileged accounts being compromised. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced to minimize the number of accounts with elevated privileges that could potentially exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any other potential weaknesses in the database infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can monitor for patterns consistent with this specific vulnerability's exploitation characteristics. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation and denial of service techniques, highlighting the importance of monitoring for unusual administrative activity and system instability patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.