CVE-2022-21320 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 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-2022-21320 represents a significant security flaw within Oracle MySQL Cluster's implementation that manifests through the Cluster: General component. This vulnerability affects MySQL Cluster versions 8.0.27 and earlier, indicating a long-standing issue that has persisted across multiple releases. The flaw specifically targets the physical communication segment where MySQL Cluster operates, making it particularly concerning for environments where network-level access control is insufficient. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit suggests that while it requires specific conditions, the potential impact is severe enough to warrant immediate attention from security teams. The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.3 reflects a medium severity level, yet the combination of high privileges required and the potential for complete cluster takeover makes this threat particularly dangerous. The attack vector AV:A indicates that physical access to the communication segment is necessary, which limits the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk entirely.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from weaknesses in how MySQL Cluster handles communications within its physical network segment, allowing an attacker with high privileged access to the communication infrastructure to compromise the entire cluster. This flaw operates at a fundamental level of network communication within the cluster architecture, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate data flows, intercept communications, or disrupt cluster operations. The requirement for human interaction from someone other than the attacker suggests that social engineering or insider threat components may be involved in successful exploitation. The vulnerability's impact spans all three core security principles as indicated by the CVSS vector, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability implications. This comprehensive impact means that attackers could potentially access sensitive data, modify cluster configurations, or cause complete service disruption that would affect all applications relying on the MySQL Cluster.
The operational impact of successfully exploiting CVE-2022-21320 could be catastrophic for organizations relying on MySQL Cluster for critical database operations. A successful takeover of the cluster would provide attackers with complete control over all database communications and potentially sensitive data stored within the cluster environment. The requirement for human interaction, while adding a layer of complexity to exploitation, does not eliminate the threat posed by this vulnerability, particularly in environments where insider threats or social engineering attacks may be present. Organizations with distributed or remote work environments may be especially vulnerable as physical access requirements could be bypassed through various means. The attack scenario involving high privileged access to communication segments aligns with common attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under network infiltration and lateral movement techniques. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where network segmentation is not properly implemented, and where physical security controls are insufficient to prevent unauthorized access to communication infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-21320 should focus on implementing robust network segmentation and access controls to prevent unauthorized physical access to communication segments. Organizations should ensure that all network infrastructure connecting to MySQL Cluster environments is properly secured and monitored for unauthorized access attempts. The implementation of network access control lists and proper authentication mechanisms for network devices should be prioritized to reduce the attack surface. Regular security assessments should be conducted to identify potential vulnerabilities in network infrastructure that could be exploited to gain access to communication segments. Additionally, organizations should implement proper monitoring and alerting systems that can detect unusual network activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as affecting versions 8.0.27 and prior necessitates immediate upgrade planning to newer versions where this vulnerability has been addressed. Security teams should also consider implementing network intrusion detection systems and ensuring that all administrative access to cluster components requires multi-factor authentication and proper access controls. The principles of least privilege should be enforced across all network components to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also develop incident response procedures that specifically address cluster takeover scenarios and ensure that all personnel understand their roles in detecting and responding to such threats.