CVE-2020-14848 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2020
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL (component: InnoDB). Supported versions that are affected are 8.0.21 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 3.1 Base Score 4.9 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/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 • 11/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-14848 resides within the InnoDB storage engine component of Oracle MySQL Server affecting versions 8.0.21 and earlier. This represents a significant availability-focused weakness that operates at the database engine level, specifically targeting the foundational data storage and retrieval mechanisms that underpin MySQL operations. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with relatively low technical barriers can leverage this flaw, making it particularly concerning for production environments where database availability is critical. The attack vector requires network access through multiple protocols, suggesting that the vulnerability can be exploited across various communication channels that MySQL supports, including TCP/IP connections and other network-based interfaces that the database server accepts.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of certain database operations within the InnoDB storage engine that can lead to resource exhaustion or state corruption. When exploited, the vulnerability enables a high privileged attacker to cause complete denial of service conditions by inducing either system hangs or repeated crashes that effectively render the MySQL server unavailable to legitimate users. This occurs through mechanisms that likely involve memory management issues or lock contention problems within the storage engine's internal processing pathways. The vulnerability's impact is specifically measured against availability as indicated by the CVSS 3.1 scoring system which assigns a base score of 4.9, reflecting the severity of potential system disruption. The vector analysis reveals that while the attack requires high privileges, the low attack complexity and lack of user interaction make this particularly dangerous in environments where administrative access might be compromised or where attackers have legitimate access to the system but seek to escalate their impact.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire database infrastructure reliability. Organizations running affected MySQL versions face significant risk of operational downtime that could impact business continuity, especially in environments where database availability is mission-critical. The vulnerability's potential to cause repeated crashes creates a cascading effect that can be difficult to manage, as the server may continuously restart or become unresponsive during attack windows. From a security perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which addresses null pointer dereference conditions, though the specific manifestation appears to be more related to resource management and process control within the database engine. The attack pattern fits within the broader ATT&CK framework under the service stop category, where adversaries seek to disrupt system availability through targeted resource exhaustion or process manipulation. This vulnerability particularly impacts database administrators and system operators who must maintain high availability standards for their applications, as any compromise of the database server's stability can cascade into broader application failures and data access issues.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-14848 focus primarily on immediate version upgrades to MySQL 8.0.22 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the underlying InnoDB storage engine issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all MySQL instances are updated promptly, particularly in environments where administrative privileges might be accessible to untrusted users. Network segmentation and access control measures should be reinforced to limit the attack surface, ensuring that only authorized administrative users have the necessary privileges to interact with the database server. Monitoring and alerting systems should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of database server instability or repeated connection failures that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing database firewalls and connection pooling mechanisms can provide additional layers of protection by limiting the exposure of vulnerable database interfaces and providing more granular control over access patterns. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any other potential entry points that could be leveraged in conjunction with this vulnerability to maximize attack impact.