CVE-2022-21284 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-2022-21284 represents a significant security weakness within Oracle MySQL Cluster implementations, specifically affecting 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 flaw resides within the Cluster: General component of the MySQL Cluster product, which serves as the foundational architecture for distributed database operations. The vulnerability classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while the attack vector requires specific conditions, the potential impact on system integrity and availability makes it particularly concerning for enterprise environments relying on MySQL Cluster for critical data operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and authentication mechanisms within the cluster communication protocols. Attackers with physical access to the network segment where MySQL Cluster operates can potentially leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized control over the entire cluster infrastructure. The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.3 reflects the moderate to high severity impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability dimensions. The attack vector AV:A indicates that physical network access is required, while the high privilege requirement AC:H suggests that attackers must already possess elevated system privileges to effectively exploit the vulnerability. The human interaction requirement UI:R implies that successful exploitation typically requires some form of social engineering or user cooperation beyond mere technical access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data compromise, as successful exploitation can result in complete takeover of the MySQL Cluster environment. This scenario would allow attackers to manipulate database transactions, modify critical system configurations, and potentially disrupt business operations across the entire cluster infrastructure. Organizations utilizing MySQL Cluster for mission-critical applications face significant risk, as the compromise of a single cluster node could potentially propagate throughout the distributed system. The vulnerability's affect on availability is particularly concerning given that MySQL Cluster is designed for high-availability scenarios, making such a compromise especially damaging to business continuity and disaster recovery planning.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-310 (Cryptographic Issues) categories, representing weaknesses in both authentication mechanisms and network security protocols. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this under T1046 (Network Service Scanning) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) as attackers might need to identify cluster communication patterns before exploiting the access control weakness. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate cluster communications, enhanced physical security measures for hardware access, and regular vulnerability assessments targeting cluster components. The recommended approach involves upgrading to supported versions where the vulnerability has been patched, implementing network monitoring for unusual cluster communication patterns, and establishing robust access control policies that minimize the attack surface for privileged accounts.
The vulnerability's exploitation complexity and requirement for physical network access somewhat limits its exposure in well-secured environments, but organizations with less stringent physical security controls face heightened risk. Regular security audits should specifically target cluster configurations, authentication protocols, and network access controls to identify potential weaknesses that could be exploited through similar vectors. The incident response plan should include specific procedures for detecting and containing cluster-level compromises, given the potential for cascading failures across distributed database systems. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically tuned to monitor for cluster communication anomalies that might indicate exploitation attempts.