CVE-2018-3060 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: InnoDB). Supported versions that are affected are 5.7.22 and prior and 8.0.11 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 creation, deletion or modification access to critical data or all MySQL Server accessible data and unauthorized ability to cause a hang or frequently repeatable crash (complete DOS) of MySQL Server. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 6.5 (Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3060 resides within the InnoDB storage engine of Oracle MySQL servers, representing a critical security flaw that affects multiple version ranges including 5.7.22 and earlier releases, as well as 8.0.11 and prior versions. This vulnerability operates at the database engine level and specifically targets the InnoDB component which is responsible for transactional database operations and storage management. The flaw manifests as a privilege escalation issue that allows attackers with network access to exploit the system's integrity and availability controls, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that the attack vector requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed through multiple network protocols, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where database servers are accessible over networks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of certain database operations within the InnoDB storage engine, specifically related to how the system manages concurrent access and transaction processing. Attackers with high privileged network access can leverage this flaw to manipulate critical database operations, potentially gaining unauthorized access to modify, delete, or create data within the MySQL server environment. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data integrity concerns as it can also cause complete denial of service conditions through repeated crashes or system hangs, effectively rendering the database server unusable. This dual impact on both data integrity and system availability makes the vulnerability particularly severe, as it can simultaneously compromise sensitive information and disrupt business operations. The CVSS score of 6.5 reflects the balanced severity of these impacts, with high scores for both integrity and availability components.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-3060 extends far beyond immediate data compromise, as it creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access to database environments and potentially escalate privileges to gain broader system control. Organizations running affected MySQL versions face significant risks including unauthorized data modification, complete database service disruption, and potential data loss or corruption. The vulnerability's network accessibility means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, making it exploitable from remote locations. Security professionals must consider this vulnerability as part of broader attack surface management, particularly in environments where MySQL servers are exposed to external networks. The flaw's potential to cause repeated crashes also impacts system reliability and can result in extended downtime during recovery operations, affecting business continuity and user experience.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-3060 should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL versions to the latest available releases that contain fixes for the InnoDB storage engine vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit direct access to MySQL servers, ensuring that database services are not directly exposed to untrusted networks. Access controls must be strengthened through proper user privilege management, ensuring that database accounts have minimal necessary permissions and that network access is restricted to authorized personnel only. Monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect anomalous database access patterns or unusual transaction operations that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation and denial of service, and organizations should incorporate this into their threat modeling and incident response planning. Additionally, implementing database activity monitoring solutions can help detect unauthorized access patterns and provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts. The CWE classification for this vulnerability relates to improper handling of database transactions and concurrent access operations, highlighting the importance of robust transaction management in database systems.