CVE-2019-2822 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL (subcomponent: Shell: Admin / InnoDB Cluster). Supported versions that are affected are 8.0.16 and prior. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise MySQL Server. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of MySQL Server. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 7.5 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2822 resides within Oracle MySQL Server's Shell component, specifically affecting the Admin and InnoDB Cluster functionalities. This flaw exists in MySQL versions 8.0.16 and earlier, representing a critical security gap that could be exploited by unauthenticated attackers. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while the attack vector is not trivial, it remains a significant threat to MySQL deployments. The attack requires network access through multiple protocols, making it potentially accessible from various entry points within a network infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms within the MySQL Shell administrative functions. Attackers can leverage this weakness to compromise the MySQL Server without requiring valid credentials, which represents a severe breach of the principle of least privilege. The requirement for human interaction suggests that while the initial exploitation may not be fully automated, social engineering or user interaction may be necessary to complete the attack. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the context of attack techniques that rely on user behavior rather than purely technical exploitation methods.
From an operational standpoint, the successful exploitation of this vulnerability can result in complete takeover of the MySQL Server, which represents a catastrophic outcome for database security. The CVSS 3.0 score of 7.5 indicates high severity across all impact vectors, with confidentiality, integrity, and availability all being severely compromised. The availability impact is particularly concerning as it suggests that attackers could potentially render database services unavailable, leading to business disruption and data unavailability. The confidentiality impact indicates that sensitive data stored within the MySQL database could be accessed by unauthorized parties, while the integrity impact suggests that database contents could be modified or corrupted.
The vulnerability's placement within the ATT&CK framework would likely align with techniques related to privilege escalation and persistence, as the successful exploitation would grant attackers full administrative control over the database server. This aligns with CWE categories related to insufficient authentication and improper access control mechanisms. Organizations using affected MySQL versions face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where database servers are directly accessible from external networks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date database software and implementing proper network segmentation to limit direct access to critical database infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL versions to 8.0.17 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Network administrators should implement strict access controls, including firewall rules that limit access to MySQL ports to trusted networks only. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect unusual access patterns or unauthorized connection attempts to database servers. The principle of defense in depth should be applied, including regular security audits, proper user access management, and implementation of database activity monitoring systems that can alert on suspicious administrative activities. Organizations should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar issues in their database infrastructure.