CVE-2019-3004 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL (component: Server: Parser). Supported versions that are affected are 8.0.17 and prior. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low 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 6.5 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3004 resides within the MySQL Server component known as Server: Parser, affecting Oracle MySQL versions 8.0.17 and earlier. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that demonstrates how seemingly minor parsing issues can escalate into significant system compromise opportunities. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with minimal privileges and network access can leverage this weakness without requiring extensive technical expertise or specialized tools.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of certain parser operations within the MySQL Server architecture, specifically within the Server: Parser component. This parser is responsible for interpreting SQL statements and commands sent to the database server, making it a fundamental component in the database communication stack. When malformed or specially crafted input reaches this parser, it triggers unexpected behavior that leads to system instability. The vulnerability's design flaw allows for a specific sequence of operations that causes the server to enter a state where it either becomes unresponsive or experiences repeated crashes, effectively rendering the database service unavailable to legitimate users and applications.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe availability risk that can result in complete denial of service conditions for MySQL Server instances. The CVSS 3.0 score of 6.5 indicates a moderate to high severity impact, with the availability impact rated as high at 8.0. Attackers with low privilege levels and network access can exploit this vulnerability through multiple protocols, making the attack surface broader and more accessible. The consequences extend beyond simple service interruption, as the repeated crashes can cause data corruption, transaction failures, and extended downtime that impacts business operations and user experience. Organizations running affected MySQL versions face potential financial losses due to service disruption and the costs associated with system recovery and security remediation.
The attack vector for this vulnerability operates through network protocols, allowing remote exploitation without requiring physical access to the system. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques related to remote exploitation and privilege escalation, where attackers can leverage network-based access to compromise system availability. The vulnerability's impact on system stability means that even a single successful attack can cause sustained disruption, potentially requiring system restarts and manual intervention to restore normal operations. This makes it particularly dangerous in production environments where database availability is critical for business continuity.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL Server installations to mitigate this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to MySQL Server versions 8.0.18 or later, where Oracle has implemented fixes for the parser handling issues that cause this instability. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns of connection attempts or server behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in database configurations and ensure comprehensive protection against related threats. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and following secure coding practices in database server components, as outlined in CWE categories related to input validation and buffer overflows that can lead to denial of service conditions.