CVE-2022-21325 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).
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-21325 represents a significant security weakness within Oracle MySQL Cluster deployments, 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 releases. This flaw resides within the Cluster: General component of the MySQL Cluster product line, which serves as the foundational architecture for distributed database operations across multiple nodes. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while the attack vector is not trivial, it remains a serious concern given the potential for unauthorized data access and service disruption. The CVSS 3.1 score of 2.9 reflects a low to medium severity rating, yet the implications for database security cannot be understated, particularly when considering that the attack requires an attacker with high privileges and physical access to the network segment where MySQL Cluster operates.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and authentication mechanisms within the MySQL Cluster's communication protocols, specifically affecting the cluster's ability to properly validate and authenticate network traffic originating from physical network segments. Attackers with access to the same physical communication segment as the MySQL Cluster can potentially exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized read access to sensitive data subsets within the cluster environment. This particular attack vector aligns with the ATT&CK framework's network infiltration techniques, specifically targeting the 'T1046 Network Service Scanning' and 'T1566 Phishing' categories where physical network access combined with social engineering could enable exploitation. The vulnerability's design flaw creates an opportunity for privilege escalation within the network segment, allowing an attacker with local network access to compromise cluster integrity and confidentiality.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-21325 extends beyond simple data exposure, as successful exploitation can result in partial denial of service conditions that disrupt cluster operations and potentially affect business continuity. The unauthorized read access to subset data represents a confidentiality breach that could expose sensitive information including user credentials, transaction records, or business-critical data stored within the cluster environment. The partial denial of service component means that attackers could destabilize cluster operations without completely taking down the system, making detection more challenging and potentially allowing for extended periods of unauthorized access. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations running MySQL Cluster in environments where physical network security controls are not adequately implemented, creating a dangerous scenario where internal network compromise can lead to database-level breaches. The requirement for human interaction beyond the initial attacker access indicates that social engineering or insider threat vectors may be leveraged to complete the exploitation process, aligning with CWE-284 Access Control flaws where insufficient privileges are enforced.
Organizations must implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of affected MySQL Cluster versions to the latest supported releases. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to prevent unauthorized physical access to network segments containing MySQL Cluster instances, implementing the principle of least privilege and network isolation. Monitoring and logging mechanisms should be enhanced to detect anomalous network traffic patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on network segments where cluster communication occurs. The implementation of network access control lists and intrusion detection systems can help identify and prevent unauthorized access attempts to the physical network infrastructure. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to validate the effectiveness of implemented controls, ensuring that the network environment remains secure against both external and internal threats. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized data access patterns and alert security teams to potential exploitation attempts, thereby reducing the risk of successful attacks and ensuring compliance with industry security standards and regulations.