CVE-2023-22058 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE • 07/19/2023
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL (component: Server: DDL). Supported versions that are affected are 8.0.33 and prior. Difficult to exploit 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 4.4 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/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-2023-22058 represents a significant availability risk within Oracle MySQL Server versions 8.0.33 and earlier, specifically affecting the Server: DDL component. This flaw manifests as a denial of service condition that can be triggered by high privileged attackers who possess network access through multiple protocols. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while the attack vector requires certain prerequisites, the potential impact remains severe enough to warrant immediate attention from security professionals. The CVSS score of 4.4 reflects the moderate severity of the availability impact, though the complete system compromise potential makes this threat particularly concerning for database environments where uptime is critical.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies within the Data Definition Language processing functionality of the MySQL server, which handles database schema modifications and structural changes. When exploited, the flaw can cause the MySQL server to enter a state of hang or experience frequently repeatable crashes, effectively rendering the database service unavailable to legitimate users and applications. This behavior aligns with CWE-119, which addresses memory safety issues and improper handling of data structures during processing. The vulnerability's exploitation requires an attacker with high privileges and network access, suggesting that the attack surface is limited to individuals who already have significant access rights to the system, though this does not diminish the severity of the potential impact.
From an operational perspective, successful exploitation of CVE-2023-22058 can result in complete denial of service conditions that may require manual intervention to restore database functionality. The repeated crash behavior indicates that the vulnerability could be leveraged for sustained disruption attacks, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where database availability is paramount. Organizations running affected MySQL versions face the risk of extended downtime that could impact business operations, data integrity, and user access to applications dependent on database services. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple service interruption as it could potentially be used as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks or as part of broader compromise strategies.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability primarily involves upgrading to MySQL Server version 8.0.34 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the DDL processing flaw. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the attack surface, ensuring that only authorized personnel have the necessary privileges to interact with database management functions. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns of database service disruption that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework's T1499 sub-technique for Network Denial of Service and T1566 for Phishing provide relevant context for understanding how this vulnerability might be exploited within broader attack campaigns, though the specific nature of CVE-2023-22058 suggests it is more likely to be used for disruption rather than data exfiltration. Security teams should also consider implementing database activity monitoring to detect anomalous DDL operations that could precede exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability's impact is specifically tied to schema modification operations within the database server.