CVE-2024-21160 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE • 07/17/2024
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL (component: InnoDB). Supported versions that are affected are 8.0.36 and prior and 8.3.0 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 • 10/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-21160 represents a critical availability issue within Oracle MySQL Server's InnoDB storage engine component. This flaw affects MySQL versions 8.0.36 and earlier, as well as 8.3.0 and prior releases, making it a widespread concern across multiple supported versions. 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 security implications extend beyond simple data integrity concerns, as the flaw specifically targets the server's availability through mechanisms that can cause complete denial of service conditions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies within the InnoDB storage engine's handling of specific database operations that trigger memory management issues or resource exhaustion conditions. When exploited by a high-privileged attacker with network access, the vulnerability enables the execution of malicious operations that cause the MySQL server to either hang indefinitely or experience frequently repeatable crashes. This behavior manifests as a complete denial of service scenario where legitimate database operations cannot proceed due to the server's unavailability. The CVSS 3.1 scoring system rates this vulnerability at 4.9 out of 10 for availability impact, with a base score that reflects the severity of the potential disruption. The attack vector requires network access and high privileges, indicating that the vulnerability is not publicly exploitable but rather accessible to attackers who already possess elevated access rights within the network environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-21160 extends significantly beyond immediate service disruption, potentially affecting business continuity and data availability for organizations relying on MySQL databases. Organizations utilizing affected MySQL versions face the risk of sustained downtime that can impact critical applications dependent on database services, potentially leading to financial losses and operational delays. The vulnerability's ability to cause complete server crashes means that database administrators must implement immediate response procedures to restore service availability. This particular weakness aligns with CWE-400, which addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption," and represents a classic example of how storage engine vulnerabilities can cascade into system-wide availability failures. The attack scenario described in the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H) indicates that network-based attacks requiring only low complexity and high privileges can result in complete availability compromise without affecting confidentiality or integrity aspects of the database system.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected MySQL versions to mitigate this vulnerability, as the flaw's exploitation can result in sustained service disruption that impacts business operations. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to MySQL versions that have addressed this specific InnoDB storage engine issue, while implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the attack surface. Database administrators should also establish monitoring procedures to detect unusual server behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date database software and implementing comprehensive security practices that include regular vulnerability assessments and patch management processes. Given the availability-focused nature of this flaw, system administrators should also consider implementing redundant database services and failover mechanisms to minimize the impact of potential exploitation events.