CVE-2022-21309 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-2022-21309 represents a significant security flaw within Oracle MySQL Cluster's implementation, 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 vulnerability operates within the Cluster: General component of the MySQL Cluster architecture, which serves as the foundational communication and coordination layer for distributed database operations. The affected versions indicate a widespread impact across the MySQL Cluster product line, suggesting that the underlying flaw has persisted through multiple release cycles and represents a fundamental architectural weakness rather than a isolated incident. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while the attack vector requires specific conditions, the potential consequences are severe enough to warrant immediate attention from security administrators and database architects.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the insufficient protection mechanisms within the MySQL Cluster's communication protocols, particularly when operating in environments where attackers have physical access to the communication segment connecting cluster nodes. This attack scenario aligns with the CVSS vector's assessment of AV:A (Adjacent network) and AC:H (High attack complexity), indicating that while the attack requires physical proximity to the network infrastructure, the attack complexity is elevated due to the need for precise timing and coordination with legitimate cluster operations. The requirement for high privileged access to the physical communication segment suggests that attackers must already possess significant network infrastructure control or have positioned themselves within the same physical network environment as the target cluster. This limitation reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk, particularly in shared or co-located environments where physical security controls may be inadequate.
The operational impact of successful exploitation of CVE-2022-21309 extends far beyond simple data compromise, as the vulnerability can result in complete takeover of the MySQL Cluster system. This level of compromise directly impacts all three pillars of information security: confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The confidentiality impact is severe as attackers could potentially access all database information stored across the cluster nodes, while the integrity impact means that data could be modified or corrupted without detection. The availability impact represents the most immediate concern, as a successful takeover could render the entire database cluster inaccessible to legitimate users and applications, potentially causing significant business disruption. The requirement for human interaction beyond the initial attacker presence suggests that the exploitation process may involve social engineering or specific operational timing that requires coordination with cluster administrators or users performing legitimate maintenance activities.
The security implications of this vulnerability extend beyond immediate exploitation to encompass broader network security considerations and operational resilience. Organizations running MySQL Cluster deployments must consider the physical security of their database infrastructure, particularly in environments where network segmentation is insufficient or where attackers might gain access to shared physical network infrastructure. This vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing robust network monitoring and intrusion detection systems that can identify unusual communication patterns or unauthorized access attempts on the cluster communication segments. The CVSS score of 6.3 indicates a medium to high severity risk that requires immediate attention, particularly for organizations operating in environments with reduced physical security controls or those that rely heavily on database cluster availability for critical business operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-21309 should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to supported versions of MySQL Cluster that contain the relevant security patches, as this represents the most direct approach to eliminating the vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit physical access to cluster communication infrastructure, while implementing additional monitoring for unusual cluster communication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's requirement for human interaction suggests that security awareness training for system administrators and database operators is crucial, as these individuals may be targeted through social engineering approaches to facilitate exploitation. Implementation of the principle of least privilege should be enforced across all cluster management interfaces and communication channels to minimize the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in the broader database infrastructure ecosystem. This vulnerability also underscores the importance of following industry standards such as those defined in CWE categories related to network communication security and physical access controls, as well as implementing defensive strategies aligned with ATT&CK framework concepts for network infiltration and privilege escalation techniques.