CVE-2019-2513 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: Shell). Supported versions that are affected are 8.0.13 and prior. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with logon to the infrastructure where MySQL Server executes to compromise MySQL Server. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in MySQL Server, attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of MySQL Server accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 2.5 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2513 resides within the MySQL Server component, specifically within the Shell subcomponent, affecting versions 8.0.13 and earlier. This represents a significant security weakness that demonstrates how seemingly minor components within database systems can create substantial risks for organizations relying on MySQL infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while it requires specific conditions to be leveraged successfully, the potential impact makes it worthy of immediate attention from security professionals. The attack vector requires local access to the MySQL server infrastructure, meaning an attacker must first establish a foothold within the system's network boundaries, typically through credentials obtained via other means or through social engineering techniques.
The technical flaw manifests in the Shell component's handling of certain operations that allow for unauthorized data access when specific conditions are met. According to the CVSS 3.0 scoring system, this vulnerability carries a base score of 2.5, which reflects its low to medium severity classification. The vector analysis reveals that the attack requires local access with low privileges, high complexity, and human interaction, indicating that while the vulnerability itself is not trivial to exploit, it can be leveraged by attackers who have already gained some level of system access. The confidentiality impact is rated as low, suggesting that attackers can only access a subset of the data rather than gaining complete system control or access to all database contents.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond the immediate MySQL Server environment, as successful exploitation can affect additional products that may be integrated with or dependent on the MySQL infrastructure. This cascading effect aligns with ATT&CK framework concept of privilege escalation and lateral movement, where initial access to one system component can potentially lead to broader compromise of interconnected systems. The requirement for human interaction implies that social engineering or other indirect attack methods may be necessary for attackers to successfully leverage this vulnerability, making it somewhat more challenging to exploit in automated attacks but still posing a real threat to organizations with insufficient security controls.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including upgrading to MySQL Server versions 8.0.14 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed. The vulnerability's classification under CWE 284 (Improper Access Control) indicates that the root cause involves inadequate access control mechanisms within the Shell component, making proper access control configuration and monitoring essential. Security teams should also conduct thorough access control reviews and implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of local access compromises. Additionally, monitoring for unusual database access patterns and implementing comprehensive logging of Shell operations can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's characteristics suggest that organizations should focus on strengthening their local network security measures and implementing robust user authentication and authorization protocols to prevent unauthorized access to database servers, as the attack requires initial system access before the specific vulnerability can be exploited.