CVE-2021-35593 in MySQL Cluster
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2021
Vulnerability in the MySQL Cluster product of Oracle MySQL (component: Cluster: General). Supported versions that are affected are 7.4.33 and prior, 7.5.23 and prior, 7.6.19 and prior and 8.0.26 and prior. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows high privileged attacker with access to the physical communication segment attached to the hardware where the MySQL Cluster executes to compromise MySQL Cluster. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of MySQL Cluster. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 6.3 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-35593 represents a significant security weakness within Oracle MySQL Cluster implementations that affects multiple version branches including 7.4.33 and earlier, 7.5.23 and earlier, 7.6.19 and earlier, and 8.0.26 and earlier. This flaw resides within the Cluster: General component of the MySQL Cluster product, specifically targeting the network communication layer where physical access to the hardware infrastructure creates a potential attack vector. The vulnerability classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while the attack requires specific conditions and prerequisites, the potential impact remains severe enough to warrant immediate attention from security administrators and system architects responsible for database infrastructure protection.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient security controls within the MySQL Cluster's communication protocols, particularly when attackers have physical access to the network segment where cluster nodes operate. This weakness allows high-privileged attackers who can access the physical communication segment to potentially compromise the entire MySQL Cluster environment. The attack requires human interaction from individuals other than the attacker, suggesting that social engineering or insider threat scenarios may be necessary to achieve successful exploitation. The CVSS 3.1 scoring of 6.3 reflects the moderate severity level, with high impacts across confidentiality, integrity, and availability domains, indicating that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as successful attacks can result in full takeover of the MySQL Cluster system. This compromise affects the fundamental security posture of database environments that rely on MySQL Cluster for distributed data management, potentially allowing attackers to modify database contents, disrupt service availability, or extract sensitive information from the cluster. The attack vector requiring physical network access on the hardware where MySQL Cluster executes creates a unique challenge for security teams, as it necessitates protecting not just the logical database environment but also the physical infrastructure and network segments where cluster nodes reside. Organizations must consider the implications of this vulnerability within their broader security architecture, particularly in environments where physical security controls may be insufficient or where insider threats are a concern.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-310 (Cryptographic Issues) categories, reflecting weaknesses in both access control mechanisms and potential cryptographic protocol failures within the cluster communication layer. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and lateral movement through network access, specifically targeting the network infrastructure rather than traditional application-level attacks. Organizations should implement layered security controls including network segmentation, access control enforcement, and regular security assessments to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability. The recommended mitigations include immediate patching of affected versions, implementation of network access controls to limit physical access to cluster hardware, and enhanced monitoring of network communications for suspicious activities. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing network intrusion detection systems and regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in their database infrastructure deployments.