CVE-2022-21337 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-2022-21337 represents a significant security weakness within Oracle MySQL Cluster deployments, specifically affecting versions through 7.4.34, 7.5.24, 7.6.20, and 8.0.27. This flaw resides in the Cluster: General component of the MySQL Cluster product, which serves as the foundational architecture for distributed database operations across multiple nodes. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while it requires specific conditions and circumstances, the potential impact on affected systems is severe enough to warrant immediate attention from security professionals. The attack vector analysis reveals that exploitation requires an attacker with physical access to the communication segment connected to the hardware hosting the MySQL Cluster, suggesting a network-level compromise scenario where adversaries can intercept or manipulate traffic between cluster nodes.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient security controls within the MySQL Cluster's communication protocols, particularly in how the system handles authentication and authorization mechanisms during cluster operations. This weakness allows a high-privileged attacker who has access to the physical communication segment to potentially compromise the entire MySQL Cluster infrastructure. The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.3 reflects the moderate severity level, yet the combination of high privilege requirements and the potential for complete system takeover makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where physical security controls may be inadequate. The vector analysis indicates that while the attack requires human interaction from someone other than the attacker, this suggests that the vulnerability may be exploitable through social engineering or insider threat scenarios where legitimate users are manipulated into performing actions that facilitate the attack.
The operational impact of successful exploitation can result in complete takeover of the MySQL Cluster, which fundamentally compromises the availability, integrity, and confidentiality of all data stored within the cluster. This represents a critical failure in the cluster's security architecture, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive database information, modify or delete critical data, and disrupt database operations across all nodes in the cluster. The vulnerability's scope extends beyond individual database instances to affect the entire distributed system, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where MySQL Cluster serves as a core component of business-critical applications. Organizations running affected versions of MySQL Cluster face significant risk of data breaches, service disruptions, and potential regulatory compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-21337 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to the latest supported versions of MySQL Cluster where the vulnerability has been resolved. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit physical access to communication segments where cluster nodes operate, implementing additional layers of security such as encrypted communication channels and strict network monitoring. The principle of least privilege should be enforced across all cluster components, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to the physical infrastructure and communication segments. Organizations should also implement comprehensive monitoring solutions to detect unusual network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts, leveraging intrusion detection systems and security information event management tools. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a significant concern for ATT&CK framework tactics related to privilege escalation and persistence within database environments, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches that address both technical and operational security controls.