CVE-2023-22008 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE • 07/19/2023
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL (component: InnoDB). Supported versions that are affected are 8.0.33 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-2023-22008 represents a critical availability threat within Oracle MySQL Server's InnoDB storage engine component. This flaw exists in MySQL versions 8.0.33 and earlier, affecting systems where the database server operates with high privilege levels and is accessible over network protocols. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with network access and elevated privileges can leverage this weakness to disrupt database services effectively. The CVSS score of 4.9 reflects the moderate to high severity impact on system availability, with the attack vector being network-based and requiring only low complexity to execute. The vulnerability's potential to cause complete denial of service through hangs or repeated crashes makes it particularly dangerous for production environments relying on database availability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from issues within the InnoDB storage engine's handling of specific database operations that can trigger memory management problems or resource exhaustion conditions. When exploited, the flaw enables an attacker with high privileges to send malicious requests through multiple network protocols that cause the MySQL server process to become unresponsive or crash repeatedly. This behavior manifests as either a complete system hang where database operations cease entirely or a condition where the server crashes and restarts in a loop, effectively rendering the database service unavailable to legitimate users. The root cause likely involves improper handling of database transactions, buffer management, or internal state transitions within the InnoDB component that leads to resource depletion or deadlock conditions when processing specific query patterns or data operations.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to database availability and business continuity. Organizations running MySQL 8.0.33 or earlier versions face potential service disruption that could impact applications dependent on database functionality, leading to extended downtime and potential data access issues. The requirement for high privilege access means that the vulnerability is more likely to be exploited by internal threat actors or attackers who have already gained administrative-level access to the database environment. However, the ease of exploitation and the complete denial of service impact make this threat particularly concerning for critical infrastructure where database availability is paramount. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple service interruption, potentially affecting backup operations, replication processes, and overall database integrity if the crashes occur frequently enough to prevent normal operations.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL installations to address this vulnerability, as the CVSS score indicates a substantial availability risk that can severely impact business operations. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to MySQL 8.0.34 or later versions where this vulnerability has been resolved through code modifications that properly handle the problematic database operations. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of database servers to unnecessary network traffic, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect unusual patterns of database crashes or hangs that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can identify and alert on suspicious query patterns that might trigger the vulnerability conditions. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which describes null pointer dereference conditions, and may relate to ATT&CK techniques involving service stoppage and availability denial through system resource exhaustion.