CVE-2021-2014 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE • 01/20/2021
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL (component: Server: PAM Auth Plugin). Supported versions that are affected are 5.7.32 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 • 02/17/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-2014 affects the MySQL Server PAM Authentication Plugin component within Oracle MySQL versions 5.7.32 and earlier. This represents a significant security weakness that operates at the authentication layer of the database system, specifically targeting the Pluggable Authentication Modules functionality that enables integration with external authentication systems. The vulnerability resides within the server component's handling of authentication requests, creating a potential pathway for malicious actors to disrupt database services through carefully crafted authentication attempts.
This flaw manifests as an availability-focused weakness that can be exploited by attackers with high privileges and network access through multiple communication protocols. The technical nature of the vulnerability involves improper handling of authentication requests within the PAM plugin, which can lead to resource exhaustion or memory corruption during authentication processing. The vulnerability's exploitability is classified as easily accessible due to the combination of network accessibility and the requirement for only high-privileged credentials, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative access might be compromised or where attackers have gained elevated privileges within the network.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially causing complete denial of service conditions that can severely impact database availability and business continuity. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability can cause the MySQL Server to hang or repeatedly crash, effectively rendering the database service unavailable to legitimate users and applications. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1489, which covers system shutdown/reboot attacks that can result in denial of service conditions.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through patching to the latest MySQL Server versions that contain the necessary security fixes. The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing network segmentation to limit access to MySQL services, employing strict access controls and monitoring for unusual authentication patterns, and maintaining comprehensive backup and recovery procedures. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response protocols specifically addressing denial of service scenarios. The vulnerability's CVSS score of 4.9 indicates a moderate severity level, but the potential for complete service disruption makes it a critical concern for database administrators and security teams responsible for maintaining system availability and reliability.