CVE-2018-3276 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: Server: Memcached). Supported versions that are affected are 5.6.41 and prior, 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-2018-3276 resides within the MySQL Server component, specifically within the Server: Memcached subcomponent, representing a critical availability threat that affects multiple MySQL versions. This flaw manifests in the form of a denial of service condition that can be triggered by high privileged attackers with network access, making it particularly concerning given the widespread use of MySQL in enterprise environments. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable underscores the significant risk it poses to database availability and system stability. The affected versions include MySQL 5.6.41 and earlier, 5.7.23 and earlier, and 8.0.12 and earlier, indicating that this issue spans multiple major releases and has persisted across different MySQL generations. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system rates this vulnerability with a base score of 4.9, which falls into the medium severity category, yet the availability impact assessment of A:H (high) demonstrates the severe consequences that successful exploitation can have on system operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves a flaw in how the MySQL Server handles certain network protocols when operating in Memcached mode, creating a condition where malicious input can cause the server to enter a state of permanent hang or frequent crashes. This behavior directly maps to the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) category CWE-119, which addresses weaknesses in memory handling and buffer overflows that can lead to system instability. The vulnerability's exploitability requires an attacker to possess high privileges, suggesting that it may be leveraged through compromised administrative accounts or insider threats rather than being a straightforward external attack vector. The network access requirement through multiple protocols indicates that the flaw exists at a fundamental level in the protocol handling mechanisms of the MySQL Server, making it particularly challenging to defend against through traditional network segmentation approaches.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can lead to complete system downtime that affects business operations and data availability. When a MySQL Server experiences frequent crashes or hangs, it can result in cascading failures throughout applications that depend on database connectivity, potentially affecting multiple services within an organization's infrastructure. The fact that this vulnerability affects multiple MySQL versions suggests that organizations running any of these affected releases are at risk, regardless of their specific deployment architecture or use case. This widespread impact makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where database servers are critical infrastructure components that support numerous applications and services. The CVSS vector analysis reveals that while the attack complexity is low (AC:L), the requirement for high privileges (PR:H) and lack of user interaction (UI:N) means that organizations must carefully consider their access control measures and privilege management policies.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of MySQL that address this vulnerability, as the affected versions represent a significant security risk. The remediation process should involve careful testing of updated MySQL versions in staging environments before deployment to production systems to ensure compatibility with existing applications and configurations. Network segmentation and access control measures should be reviewed and enhanced to limit the potential attack surface, particularly regarding who has high privilege access to MySQL servers. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would likely fall under the T1068 technique for Local Privilege Escalation, as it requires high privilege access to exploit effectively. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual patterns of server crashes or hangs that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify other potential weaknesses in the database infrastructure and ensure that all components are running patched versions that address known vulnerabilities. The remediation approach should also include reviewing and strengthening authentication mechanisms, as the vulnerability's exploitation requires elevated privileges, indicating that weak authentication or privilege management practices could enable attackers to reach this level of access.