CVE-2018-3284 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: InnoDB). Supported versions that are affected are 5.7.23 and prior and 8.0.12 and prior. Difficult to exploit 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 4.4 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/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-2018-3284 resides within the InnoDB storage engine of Oracle MySQL Server, representing a significant availability risk that affects multiple version ranges including 5.7.23 and earlier releases, as well as 8.0.12 and prior versions. This flaw manifests as a heap-based buffer over-read condition that occurs during specific database operations involving the InnoDB storage engine, particularly when processing certain query patterns or data structures. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read, which represents a fundamental memory safety issue that can lead to unpredictable system behavior. The attack vector requires a high-privileged attacker with network access through multiple protocols, indicating that this vulnerability is not easily exploitable by casual threat actors but poses a serious risk to organizations where internal threats or compromised accounts exist.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting specific database queries or operations that trigger the buffer over-read condition within the InnoDB engine's memory management routines. When the affected MySQL server processes these malicious inputs, it attempts to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially causing the server process to crash or become unresponsive. The CVSS score of 4.4 reflects the availability impact, as successful exploitation results in a complete denial of service condition that can bring database operations to a halt. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and demonstrates how database-specific flaws can be leveraged to achieve system-wide availability impacts. The high privilege requirement (PR:H) suggests that attackers must already have database user access or administrative credentials, but this still represents a critical risk given that database administrators often possess extensive system privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-3284 extends beyond simple service disruption, as database downtime can cascade through entire application ecosystems that depend on MySQL services. Organizations running affected MySQL versions face potential business disruption from complete service outages, data processing delays, and the need for emergency maintenance procedures. The vulnerability's difficulty to exploit (AC:H) means that while it requires specific conditions and knowledge of the internal database structures, the potential consequences make it a critical concern for database administrators and security teams. The affected versions represent a substantial portion of MySQL deployments, making this vulnerability particularly widespread in enterprise environments where legacy database systems continue to operate. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessment frameworks, particularly in environments where database access controls may be insufficient or where privileged accounts have been compromised. The availability impact severity (A:H) indicates that organizations must implement immediate mitigation strategies including patching, network segmentation, and monitoring for unusual database activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.