CVE-2023-21953 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE • 04/18/2023
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL (component: Server: Partition). Supported versions that are affected are 8.0.32 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. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 4.9 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-21953 resides within the MySQL Server partitioning component of Oracle MySQL database systems. This issue affects versions 8.0.32 and earlier, representing a significant concern for database administrators and security professionals managing critical infrastructure. The vulnerability operates at the server level within the partitioning functionality, which is a core database feature used for organizing and managing large datasets across multiple storage units. The affected component specifically handles partitioned table operations, making it particularly relevant for systems that utilize partitioning strategies to optimize performance and manage data distribution across multiple storage devices.
This vulnerability represents a high-privilege attack vector that can be exploited by authenticated attackers with network access through multiple protocols. The CVSS score of 4.9 indicates a moderate severity classification with a strong focus on availability impact, as reflected by the high availability impact rating of 8.0. The attack requires an attacker to possess high privileges, suggesting that the vulnerability likely involves administrative or root-level access to the database system. The exploitation mechanism targets the partitioning subsystem, which is commonly used in enterprise environments where large datasets are managed through partitioned tables. The vulnerability's design allows for complete denial of service conditions, where successful exploitation can cause the MySQL Server to hang or repeatedly crash, effectively rendering the database service unavailable to legitimate users and applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire database operations within affected systems. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause repeated crashes that may require manual intervention to restore service, leading to extended downtime and potential data loss scenarios. The nature of partitioning operations makes this particularly dangerous in production environments where database availability is critical for business operations. Organizations relying on MySQL partitioning features for performance optimization and data management may find their systems particularly vulnerable to this type of attack, as the partitioning functionality is deeply integrated into the database engine's core operations. The vulnerability's ability to cause complete DOS conditions means that even a single successful exploit can bring down critical database services, affecting multiple applications that depend on the database for their operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-21953 should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL Server installations to version 8.0.33 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the attack surface, ensuring that only authorized personnel have high-privilege access to database systems. The principle of least privilege should be strictly enforced, limiting administrative access to database servers to essential personnel only. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns in database server behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, including monitoring for repeated connection failures or service interruptions. Security teams should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous partitioning operations that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions, and may also relate to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and denial of service attacks. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities within the database infrastructure, particularly focusing on the partitioning and storage management components of database systems.