CVE-2020-2893 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL (component: InnoDB). Supported versions that are affected are 8.0.19 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 • 05/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-2893 resides within the InnoDB storage engine component of Oracle MySQL Server affecting versions 8.0.19 and earlier. This flaw represents a significant security concern as it operates within the core database infrastructure that powers countless applications and services across enterprise environments. The vulnerability manifests as a weakness in the database management system's internal processing mechanisms, specifically within the InnoDB transaction handling and memory management subsystems. The affected component processes database transactions and maintains data integrity through complex internal algorithms that manage concurrent access to database resources. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can leverage elevated privileges combined with network access to manipulate the database server's operational state through multiple communication protocols.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of certain database operations within the InnoDB storage engine, particularly when processing specific transaction sequences or memory allocation patterns. This flaw creates a condition where malicious input or crafted database operations can trigger abnormal termination sequences within the MySQL server process. The vulnerability's exploitability requires an attacker to possess high-privileged access to the system, typically through administrative or database user accounts with sufficient permissions to execute database operations. However, the attack vector remains accessible via network protocols such as TCP/IP connections, making it potentially dangerous in environments where database servers are exposed to external networks. The specific nature of the flaw involves memory management errors that cause the server process to enter an unrecoverable state during transaction processing, leading to complete service disruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-2893 extends beyond simple service interruption as it can result in complete denial of service conditions that severely impact business operations. Organizations relying on MySQL databases for critical applications face potential downtime that can cascade through dependent systems, affecting customer access, data processing capabilities, and overall business continuity. The vulnerability's availability impact score of 4.9 on the CVSS scale indicates a moderate to high risk of system unavailability, with successful exploitation leading to repeated crashes that require manual intervention to restore service. Database administrators and security teams must contend with the challenge of identifying and mitigating this vulnerability while maintaining operational stability. The complete DOS condition means that the affected MySQL server becomes entirely inaccessible until manual restart or system recovery procedures are executed, potentially resulting in significant business disruption and data availability issues.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including patching the MySQL server to versions 8.0.20 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the exposure of database servers to untrusted networks, reducing the attack surface available to potential adversaries. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and may relate to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. Regular monitoring of database server processes and implementation of automated alerting systems can help detect abnormal behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, maintaining comprehensive backup and recovery procedures ensures that organizations can quickly restore database services in the event of successful exploitation, minimizing the overall impact on business operations and maintaining data integrity throughout the recovery process.