CVE-2018-2877 in MySQL Cluster
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Cluster component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: Cluster: ndbcluster/plugin). Supported versions that are affected are 7.2.27 and prior, 7.3.16 and prior, 7.4.14 and prior and 7.5.5 and prior. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with logon to the infrastructure where MySQL Cluster executes to compromise MySQL Cluster. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a hang or frequently repeatable crash (complete DOS) of MySQL Cluster. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 5.0 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/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-2018-2877 resides within the MySQL Cluster component of Oracle MySQL, specifically affecting the ndbcluster/plugin subcomponent. This issue impacts multiple version ranges including 7.2.27 and earlier, 7.3.16 and earlier, 7.4.14 and earlier, and 7.5.5 and earlier versions. The vulnerability classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with low-privilege access to the MySQL Cluster infrastructure can potentially compromise the entire cluster system. The attack vector requires local access to the infrastructure where MySQL Cluster operates, making it particularly concerning for environments where physical or network access controls may be insufficient. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system assigns this vulnerability a base score of 5.0, reflecting moderate severity with availability impacts as the primary concern.
The technical flaw manifests as a condition that allows an attacker to cause complete denial of service through hang conditions or frequently repeatable crashes within the MySQL Cluster environment. This represents a significant availability risk since the cluster's ability to maintain consistent database operations becomes compromised. The vulnerability requires human interaction from someone other than the attacker, suggesting that the exploitation process may involve some form of social engineering or legitimate user activity that could be manipulated by the attacker. The impact of successful exploitation results in unauthorized ability to cause system instability that can render the MySQL Cluster completely unusable for database operations. This aligns with CWE-119 which deals with improper restriction of operations within a limited scope, and the attack pattern reflects elements of the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and denial of service techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially disrupt critical database operations that organizations rely upon for business continuity. When a MySQL Cluster experiences frequent crashes or hangs, it can lead to extended downtime, data inconsistency issues, and significant business disruption. Organizations running MySQL Cluster deployments in production environments face particular risk since these systems often support mission-critical applications and services. The requirement for human interaction in the exploitation process suggests that this vulnerability may be more effectively mitigated through proper access controls and user behavior monitoring rather than purely technical solutions. The availability impact rating of high (A:H) indicates that successful exploitation can completely disable the MySQL Cluster service, potentially requiring manual intervention and system restarts to restore normal operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-2877 should focus on immediate version upgrades to patched releases of MySQL Cluster, as this represents the most effective long-term solution. Organizations should implement comprehensive access control measures to limit local system access to only authorized personnel, thereby reducing the attack surface for this vulnerability. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited. System administrators should also implement proper logging and monitoring of MySQL Cluster activities to quickly detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched versions in staging environments before deployment to production systems to ensure that the updates do not introduce compatibility issues or regressions in existing database operations.