CVE-2019-2798 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: InnoDB). 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 • 11/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2798 resides within the InnoDB storage engine of Oracle MySQL Server, representing a critical availability threat that affects versions 8.0.15 and earlier. This flaw manifests as a denial of service condition that can be exploited by attackers with high privileges and network access through multiple protocols. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with minimal technical sophistication can leverage this weakness to disrupt MySQL server operations, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where database availability is paramount.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves a flaw within the InnoDB component that governs how the database engine handles certain operations, leading to potential system hangs or repeated crashes that can completely disable the MySQL service. The CVSS 3.0 scoring system assigns this vulnerability a base score of 4.9, reflecting its moderate severity in terms of availability impact while considering the high privilege requirements and network access needed for exploitation. The attack vector is classified as network-based with low complexity and high privileges required, suggesting that the vulnerability is not trivially exploitable but still represents a significant risk to database server stability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as the complete denial of service condition can severely impact business operations that depend on MySQL database functionality. Organizations running affected MySQL versions face the risk of extended downtime, potential data access interruptions, and cascading effects on applications that rely on database connectivity. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where MySQL serves as a critical backend component for web applications, transaction processing systems, and other business-critical services that require reliable database availability.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which addresses memory safety issues in database systems, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. The high privilege requirement suggests that this vulnerability may be exploited through compromised administrative accounts or insider threats, making it essential for organizations to implement strict access controls and monitoring of administrative activities. Organizations should prioritize patch management and apply the vendor-provided security updates to mitigate this vulnerability, while also implementing network segmentation to limit potential attack surfaces and monitoring for unusual network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts.
The remediation approach for CVE-2019-2798 requires immediate attention from database administrators and security teams to upgrade to MySQL versions that contain the necessary security patches. Organizations should conduct thorough testing of patches in staging environments before deployment to ensure compatibility with existing applications and database configurations. Additionally, implementing comprehensive monitoring solutions that can detect unusual database behavior, such as repeated connection failures or service interruptions, provides early warning capabilities that can help identify exploitation attempts before they cause significant disruption to operations.