CVE-2018-3161 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: Server: Partition). Supported versions that are affected are 5.7.23 and prior and 8.0.12 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 • 05/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3161 resides within the MySQL Server component, specifically within the Server: Partition subcomponent of Oracle MySQL database software. This flaw affects multiple version ranges including all 5.7.x releases through 5.7.23 and 8.0.x versions through 8.0.12, representing a significant portion of the MySQL server ecosystem. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with high privileges and network access can leverage this weakness effectively, making it particularly concerning for database administrators who must maintain robust security controls.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests as a flaw in the partitioning functionality of MySQL Server, where improper handling of certain partitioned table operations can lead to system instability. This specific weakness allows for complete denial of service conditions through either hanging or repeated crashes of the MySQL Server process. The vulnerability's impact is measured through CVSS version 3.0 scoring system with a base score of 4.9, indicating a moderate to high severity threat primarily focused on availability impacts. The CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H) reveals that the attack requires network access with high privileges, no user interaction, and can affect the entire system without requiring additional scope expansion.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to database availability and system reliability, particularly in environments where MySQL serves as a critical data store for business applications. The ability to cause complete system crashes or hangs means that database services could become unavailable for extended periods, potentially affecting numerous applications that depend on MySQL for their operations. The high privilege requirement suggests that this vulnerability is more likely to be exploited by insiders or attackers who have already gained elevated access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative access is not properly controlled. Organizations with MySQL installations in production environments must carefully assess their risk exposure and implement appropriate security measures.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses "Improper Access to Resources via Pointer Dereference" and potentially CWE-476 which deals with "NULL Pointer Dereference" in database management systems. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged during the Execution and Persistence phases of an attack lifecycle, where an attacker with sufficient privileges might use it to maintain access while causing service disruption. The availability impact specifically maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers "Endpoint Denial of Service" and potentially T1566.001 for "Phishing" if the attack vector involves social engineering to gain the necessary high privileges. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to MySQL servers, maintaining up-to-date patches, and monitoring for unusual network activity or service disruptions that might indicate exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL versions to the latest stable releases that contain the necessary security fixes. Network access controls should be implemented to restrict MySQL server access to only trusted hosts and users, particularly limiting the attack surface for potential exploitation. Database administrators should also implement robust monitoring solutions that can detect unusual service behavior or repeated connection failures that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their database environments and ensure that privilege escalation controls are properly enforced to minimize the risk of unauthorized access that could lead to exploitation of this vulnerability. The combination of proper patch management, network security controls, and monitoring provides the most effective defense against this particular vulnerability while maintaining overall database system integrity and availability.