CVE-2022-21280 in MySQL Cluster
Summary
by MITRE • 01/19/2022
Vulnerability in the MySQL Cluster product of Oracle MySQL (component: Cluster: General). Supported versions that are affected are 7.4.34 and prior, 7.5.24 and prior, 7.6.20 and prior and 8.0.27 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 • 01/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-21280 represents a significant security weakness within Oracle MySQL Cluster implementations that affects multiple version branches including 7.4.34 and earlier, 7.5.24 and earlier, 7.6.20 and earlier, and 8.0.27 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the Cluster: General component of the MySQL Cluster product, making it particularly concerning as it impacts the fundamental operational capabilities of the distributed database system. The vulnerability classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while the attack vector requires specific conditions, the potential impact is severe enough to warrant immediate attention from security teams responsible for database infrastructure protection.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient security controls that allow a high privileged attacker with physical access to the communication segment connected to the MySQL Cluster hardware to compromise the entire cluster environment. This attack requires the attacker to have access to the physical communication segment, which typically represents a significant security boundary consideration. The vulnerability's CVSS score of 6.3 reflects the high impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability domains, indicating that successful exploitation could result in complete takeover of the MySQL Cluster system. The attack complexity is rated as high (AC:H) due to the specific requirements for physical access and the need for human interaction from individuals other than the attacker, suggesting that social engineering or insider threats may play a role in successful exploitation scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-21280 extends far beyond simple data compromise, as it allows for complete system takeover of the affected MySQL Cluster, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate database operations, access sensitive information, and disrupt critical business operations that depend on cluster availability. The requirement for human interaction from persons other than the attacker suggests that this vulnerability may be exploited through social engineering techniques or by leveraging insider access, making it particularly dangerous in environments where physical security controls are not properly maintained. Organizations utilizing MySQL Cluster in production environments face significant risk if this vulnerability is not addressed through proper patching and security hardening measures.
Security mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-21280 should focus on immediate patch deployment for all affected versions, ensuring that systems are updated to versions beyond the vulnerable releases mentioned in the advisory. Network segmentation and physical security controls should be enhanced to prevent unauthorized access to communication segments where MySQL Cluster systems operate, aligning with defense-in-depth principles that are fundamental to modern cybersecurity frameworks. The vulnerability's classification under CWE categories related to insufficient security controls and privilege escalation highlights the importance of maintaining proper access controls and network security measures. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures that account for the specific attack vectors associated with this vulnerability, ensuring that security teams are prepared to respond to potential cluster takeovers that could result in complete system compromise and data loss.