CVE-2018-3144 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: Server: Security: Audit). Supported versions that are affected are 5.7.23 and prior and 8.0.12 and prior. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated 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 5.9 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3144 resides within the MySQL Server component, specifically within the Server: Security: Audit subcomponent of Oracle MySQL database systems. This flaw affects multiple versions including all releases prior to 5.7.23 and 8.0.12, representing a significant security gap in database server implementations that could be exploited by malicious actors without requiring authentication credentials. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while the attack vector requires some technical knowledge and network access, the potential impact on system availability makes it a serious concern for database administrators and security professionals managing MySQL installations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests as a weakness in the audit logging mechanism that governs how MySQL Server handles security events and access attempts. When an unauthenticated attacker gains network access to the MySQL server through multiple protocols, they can trigger a specific sequence of operations that causes the server to enter a state of continuous hanging or repeated crashes. This behavior represents a complete denial of service condition where legitimate users cannot access the database services, effectively rendering the MySQL server non-functional until manual intervention or system restart occurs. The vulnerability's design flaw appears to stem from insufficient input validation or improper error handling within the audit subsystem, allowing malicious input to disrupt normal server operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates severe availability concerns for organizations relying on MySQL databases for critical business operations. The CVSS 3.0 score of 5.9 with a high availability impact rating indicates that successful exploitation can lead to complete system downtime, potentially affecting numerous applications and services that depend on database connectivity. The fact that this vulnerability affects both the 5.7 and 8.0 release lines means that organizations across different MySQL versions must assess their risk exposure, particularly those with legacy systems or delayed upgrade cycles. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that any network-accessible MySQL server could be targeted, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where database servers are exposed to untrusted networks or the internet.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through official Oracle patches and updates to address this vulnerability, as the availability impact could result in significant business disruption. The vulnerability's classification under CWE 119 (Improper Access to Memory) and potential mapping to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 (Endpoint Denial of Service) highlights the need for comprehensive security monitoring and network segmentation strategies. Security teams should implement network-level controls to restrict access to MySQL ports and protocols, while also establishing robust monitoring for unusual connection patterns or service disruptions that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in database server configurations and ensure that proper access controls are in place to minimize the attack surface for such availability-focused exploits.