CVE-2024-21130 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE • 07/17/2024
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL (component: Server: Optimizer). Supported versions that are affected are 8.0.37 and prior and 8.4.0 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 • 10/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-21130 represents a significant availability risk within Oracle MySQL Server's optimizer component, affecting versions 8.0.37 and earlier as well as 8.4.0 and prior. This flaw resides in the server's query optimization logic, which is fundamental to database performance and operation. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with high privileges and network access can leverage this weakness to disrupt database services. The CVSS score of 4.9 reflects the moderate to high impact on system availability, with the potential to cause complete denial of service through hangs or repeated crashes that can effectively render the database server non-operational. The attack vector requires network access via multiple protocols, suggesting that this vulnerability could be exploited from external networks, making it particularly concerning for publicly accessible database instances.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling within the MySQL Server's optimizer module, which is responsible for determining the most efficient execution plans for database queries. When specific query patterns or conditions are processed through the optimizer, the flaw causes the server to enter a state where it either becomes unresponsive or experiences repeated crashes. This behavior typically occurs during complex query execution or when the optimizer encounters certain edge cases in query structure. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects the core database functionality rather than secondary components, meaning that any query execution could potentially trigger the problematic code path. This makes the attack surface particularly broad and difficult to predict or prevent through simple query filtering approaches.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents a critical threat to database availability and business continuity. Organizations relying on MySQL Server for mission-critical applications face potential downtime that could span hours or days, depending on the recovery process and backup systems in place. The high privilege requirement for exploitation suggests that attackers would need to have legitimate access to the database system, potentially through compromised administrative accounts or legitimate user credentials. However, the ease of exploitation means that even limited access could be sufficient to cause significant disruption. The complete denial of service capability makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous because it can be used as a persistent attack vector that prevents legitimate database access and can be repeatedly executed to maintain service disruption.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL Server installations to address this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy includes applying the latest security patches from Oracle, which should contain fixes for the optimizer component's handling of specific query patterns. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to ensure that only authorized users can access database servers, reducing the risk of exploitation. Monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of database server crashes or hangs that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing database activity monitoring and query auditing can help identify when malicious queries are being executed that might trigger the vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation and denial of service techniques, where attackers leverage software flaws to gain increased access or compromise system availability. This vulnerability also aligns with CWE-119, which covers improper access to memory, as the optimizer's improper handling could lead to memory access violations that cause system instability. Organizations should also consider implementing database firewalls or query filtering mechanisms that can prevent potentially malicious queries from reaching the optimizer component, providing an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts.