CVE-2022-21319 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 unauthorized read access to a subset of MySQL Cluster accessible data and unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of MySQL Cluster. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 2.9 (Confidentiality and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:L).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-21319 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 flaw resides within the Cluster: General component of the MySQL Cluster product suite, making it particularly concerning given the distributed nature of cluster environments where multiple nodes communicate and coordinate data operations. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while it requires specific conditions to be successfully leveraged, the potential impact on cluster security is substantial. The attack vector requires an attacker to have physical access to the communication segment connected to the hardware hosting the MySQL Cluster, which creates a unique threat landscape where physical security controls become paramount.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and authentication mechanisms within the cluster communication protocols. Attackers with high privileged access to the physical network segment can potentially compromise the MySQL Cluster environment, though the attack requires human interaction from individuals other than the attacker, suggesting a social engineering or insider threat component. The vulnerability's CVSS 3.1 score of 2.9 reflects a low to medium severity classification, yet the implications for cluster security cannot be understated. The attack scenario involves unauthorized read access to a subset of MySQL Cluster accessible data, which can include sensitive database information, user credentials, or operational data that could be valuable to adversaries. Additionally, the vulnerability enables the potential for partial denial of service conditions, where attackers can disrupt cluster operations and compromise system availability, though not completely disable the service.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it affects both confidentiality and availability aspects of the cluster environment. The partial denial of service capability means that attackers can degrade cluster performance or temporarily disable specific services, creating operational disruptions that may affect business continuity. The requirement for human interaction indicates that this vulnerability may be exploited through social engineering tactics where legitimate users are manipulated into providing access or performing actions that facilitate the attack. This aspect of the vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for social engineering and demonstrates how physical access combined with human factors can create significant security risks. Organizations using affected MySQL Cluster versions face potential data exposure and service degradation risks that could impact their overall security posture and compliance requirements.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-21319 should focus on strengthening both physical and network security controls. Organizations should implement robust network segmentation to isolate MySQL Cluster environments from general network traffic and ensure that only authorized physical access points exist. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual communication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around cluster communication protocols. Regular security assessments should include evaluation of physical access controls and employee training on recognizing social engineering attempts that could facilitate exploitation. Patch management processes should be prioritized to ensure timely deployment of Oracle security updates that address this specific vulnerability. The implementation of network access controls and authentication mechanisms should be reviewed to ensure that only legitimate cluster nodes can communicate with each other, reducing the attack surface for this particular vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized access attempts and provide alerts when suspicious read operations occur on cluster data. The vulnerability's classification under CWE categories related to insufficient access control and weak physical security measures underscores the importance of comprehensive security controls that address both logical and physical access points to database environments.