CVE-2022-21367 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE • 01/19/2022
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL (component: Server: Compiling). Supported versions that are affected are 5.7.36 and prior and 8.0.27 and prior. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows high privileged attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise MySQL Server. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a hang or frequently repeatable crash (complete DOS) of MySQL Server as well as unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of MySQL Server accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 5.5 (Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-21367 resides within the MySQL Server component known as Server: Compiling, affecting Oracle MySQL versions 5.7.36 and earlier, as well as 8.0.27 and earlier. This flaw represents a significant security concern that operates at the intersection of privilege escalation and denial of service conditions. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with high privileges and network access can leverage this weakness through multiple protocols to compromise MySQL Server operations. The CVSS 3.1 scoring system assigns this vulnerability a base score of 5.5, reflecting moderate severity with specific impacts to integrity and availability, while maintaining a low attack complexity and no user interaction requirements.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from issues within the server's compilation processes, suggesting problems in how MySQL handles certain code compilation operations or parsing of specific SQL constructs. This flaw manifests as a potential for complete denial of service conditions, where successful exploitation can cause MySQL Server to hang or experience frequently repeatable crashes, effectively rendering the database service unavailable to legitimate users. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple availability issues, as it also provides unauthorized access to modify database contents through update, insert, or delete operations on some accessible data. This dual nature of impact makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it combines both service disruption and data integrity compromise capabilities.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations relying on MySQL databases, particularly those with high-privilege accounts or network-accessible database servers. The requirement for high privileged access indicates that this vulnerability is not easily exploitable by casual attackers but poses significant risk to environments where administrative accounts may be compromised or where insufficient privilege separation exists. The multiple protocol access vectors suggest that this vulnerability can be exploited through various network communication channels, increasing the attack surface and making it more challenging to defend against. Organizations utilizing affected MySQL versions face potential business disruption through service unavailability combined with possible data modification attacks that could compromise database integrity.
The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-119, which addresses "Improper Access to Resources via Pointer Manipulation," and potentially CWE-476, "NULL Pointer Dereference," given the potential for crashes and hangs in the server process. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability relates to T1499.004, "Endpoint Denial of Service," and T1566.001, "Phishing," as exploitation may involve network-based attacks that could be facilitated through social engineering or compromised administrative accounts. The security implications extend to data protection requirements under frameworks such as GDPR and HIPAA, where unauthorized modification of database records could constitute compliance violations. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems, implementing network segmentation to limit access to database servers, and establishing robust monitoring for unusual database activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate application of Oracle's security patches for MySQL versions 5.7.37 and 8.0.28, which address this specific vulnerability. Network-level protections should involve restricting database server access to trusted networks only, implementing strong authentication mechanisms, and utilizing privilege separation techniques to minimize the impact of potential compromise. Database administrators should conduct thorough access reviews to ensure that only necessary accounts possess high privileges, while also implementing comprehensive logging and monitoring solutions to detect anomalous database behavior. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing database activity monitoring tools that can identify potential exploitation attempts and provide real-time alerts for suspicious modifications or service disruptions. The implementation of defense-in-depth strategies including network firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and regular security assessments will provide additional layers of protection against potential exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities in MySQL environments.