CVE-2023-22111 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL (component: Server: UDF). 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-2023-22111 represents a critical availability threat within Oracle MySQL Server's User Defined Functions (UDF) component. This flaw exists in MySQL versions 8.0.33 and earlier, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of this database platform across enterprise environments. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with high privileges and network access can leverage this weakness to compromise the targeted MySQL server instances. The attack vector encompasses multiple protocols, suggesting that the vulnerability can be exploited through various network communication channels that MySQL supports.
The technical nature of this vulnerability resides within the Server: UDF component of MySQL, where improper handling of certain function calls or memory management operations creates opportunities for malicious exploitation. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability enables attackers to induce a complete denial of service condition by causing the MySQL server to hang or repeatedly crash. This type of attack fundamentally undermines the availability of database services, which can have cascading effects throughout dependent applications and systems that rely on MySQL for data persistence and retrieval operations. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 4.9 reflects the moderate severity of the availability impact, though the complete system disruption potential makes this a serious concern for database administrators and security teams.
From an operational impact perspective, the consequences of successful exploitation can be severe for organizations relying on MySQL databases. The ability to cause repeated crashes or system hangs can result in extended downtime for database services, potentially affecting business operations and customer access to applications that depend on the database. The vulnerability's requirement for high-privileged access indicates that it likely targets administrators or processes with elevated permissions, making it particularly dangerous in environments where privilege escalation attacks have occurred. The complete DOS condition means that database services could become unavailable for extended periods until manual intervention or system restart occurs, potentially causing significant business disruption.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to established frameworks such as CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) which would classify this under weakness categories related to improper handling of resources or memory management issues. The attack patterns align with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under persistence and privilege escalation categories, particularly when attackers leverage high-privileged accounts to maintain access while exploiting availability vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest MySQL patches, implementing network segmentation to limit access to database servers, and monitoring for unusual connection patterns or system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, privilege management should be strictly enforced, ensuring that database access is limited to only those users who require elevated permissions for legitimate administrative purposes. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date database software and implementing comprehensive monitoring solutions that can detect and respond to availability attacks before they cause significant operational damage.