CVE-2018-3145 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: Server: Parser). Supported versions that are affected are 8.0.12 and prior. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low 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 6.5 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3145 resides within the MySQL Server component, specifically in the Server: Parser subcomponent, affecting all versions up to and including 8.0.12. This represents a critical availability threat that undermines the fundamental reliability of database operations. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with minimal privileges and network access can leverage this weakness to compromise the target system, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where database availability is paramount. The attack vector through multiple protocols suggests that the flaw can be exploited regardless of the specific communication channel used to access the MySQL server.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves a flaw within the SQL parser that processes incoming database queries, creating a condition where malformed or specially crafted input can trigger a denial of service scenario. When exploited, the vulnerability enables attackers to cause the MySQL server to either hang indefinitely or experience repeated crashes, effectively rendering the database service unavailable to legitimate users. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad and can result in complete system downtime, potentially affecting business operations and data accessibility. The CVSS 3.0 base score of 6.5 reflects the moderate to high severity of the impact, with the availability impact rated as high at 8.0, indicating that successful exploitation can completely disrupt database services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential business continuity issues, especially in environments where MySQL serves as a critical backend component for applications. Organizations may experience significant downtime during exploitation, leading to lost productivity, revenue impacts, and potential customer dissatisfaction. The low privilege requirement means that even users with minimal database permissions can potentially cause this disruption, making it particularly concerning for environments with broad user access. From a security perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which deals with stack-based buffer overflows, and may also relate to CWE-122 for heap-based buffer overflows, though the specific nature of the parser vulnerability suggests a more complex parsing error that leads to resource exhaustion or memory corruption. The attack pattern follows ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service, where adversaries leverage system weaknesses to disrupt service availability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-3145 should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL server versions to 8.0.13 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of MySQL services to untrusted networks, while also considering the deployment of network intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts. Database administrators should review and restrict user privileges to minimize the attack surface, ensuring that only necessary users have access to database operations that might trigger parser vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in database configurations, while system monitoring should be enhanced to quickly detect and respond to service disruptions. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and query sanitization practices can help reduce the risk of exploitation, though the primary defense remains the application of official security patches provided by Oracle.