CVE-2019-2687 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: Server: Optimizer). Supported versions that are affected are 8.0.15 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 • 11/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2687 resides within the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL, specifically within the Server: Optimizer subcomponent. This critical flaw affects all versions of MySQL 8.0.15 and earlier, representing a significant security concern for organizations relying on MySQL database systems. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with high privileges and network access can leverage this weakness to compromise the targeted MySQL server infrastructure. The attack vector requires network connectivity and can be executed through multiple protocols, making it particularly dangerous in environments where MySQL servers are exposed to external networks. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system assigns a base score of 4.9, with the availability impact category receiving the highest weight, indicating that successful exploitation can result in complete denial of service conditions that can either hang the MySQL server or cause it to crash repeatedly.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling within the query optimizer module of MySQL's server implementation. When specific query patterns are processed through the optimizer, the system fails to properly validate or manage certain internal operations, leading to potential buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other internal state inconsistencies. The optimizer is responsible for determining the most efficient execution path for database queries, and when this component encounters malformed or specially crafted input during query processing, it can trigger system instability. The vulnerability's impact manifests as either a complete system hang where the MySQL server becomes unresponsive to further queries or a condition where the server crashes repeatedly, effectively rendering the database service unavailable to legitimate users and applications that depend on it. This behavior aligns with the availability impact classification, as the system's core functionality becomes compromised, preventing normal database operations.
The operational consequences of CVE-2019-2687 extend beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader business continuity concerns for organizations utilizing MySQL databases. When a MySQL server becomes unavailable due to this vulnerability, database-dependent applications experience complete service interruption, potentially affecting critical business processes that rely on data availability. The vulnerability's requirement for high-privileged access means that attackers typically need valid database credentials or equivalent access levels to exploit the weakness, though this still represents a significant risk in environments where privilege escalation or credential compromise has occurred. Organizations may experience substantial downtime as administrators work to identify and resolve the issue, potentially leading to data processing delays, transaction failures, and overall degradation of service quality. The repeated crash scenario can also generate significant system resource consumption during recovery periods, further impacting overall infrastructure performance.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-2687 should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL installations to the latest available versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive vulnerability management processes to identify all MySQL instances within their environment and ensure timely application of security updates. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of MySQL servers to unnecessary network traffic and reduce the attack surface available to potential adversaries. The implementation of monitoring solutions that can detect unusual system behavior, such as repeated crashes or server hangs, can provide early warning capabilities for exploitation attempts. Additionally, database administrators should consider implementing query validation and sanitization measures to prevent malformed queries from reaching the optimizer component, although this approach may introduce performance overhead and requires careful implementation to avoid disrupting legitimate database operations. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date database software and implementing robust security monitoring practices to protect against availability-focused attacks that can severely impact business operations. The issue aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and may also relate to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network disruption through resource exhaustion or system instability.