CVE-2024-21165 in MySQL Server
Summary
by MITRE • 07/17/2024
Vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL (component: Server: Pluggable Auth). Supported versions that are affected are 8.0.37 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-2024-21165 resides within the MySQL Server's pluggable authentication component, representing a critical availability risk that affects MySQL 8.0.37 and earlier versions. This flaw operates within the server's authentication framework where the pluggable authentication mechanism fails to properly validate or handle certain authentication requests, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's authentication processing. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with minimal technical barriers can leverage this weakness, particularly when they possess high-privileged network access through multiple communication protocols that MySQL supports.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the authentication subsystem, where malformed or specially crafted authentication requests can trigger memory corruption or resource exhaustion conditions. When processed through the pluggable authentication framework, these malformed requests cause the MySQL Server process to enter an unstable state that results in complete denial of service conditions. The vulnerability specifically targets the server's ability to maintain stable authentication sessions and process legitimate authentication requests, leading to system hangs or repeated crashes that effectively render the database service unavailable to authorized users and applications.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant business disruption as it allows attackers to cause complete service outages of MySQL database servers through relatively simple exploitation techniques. The high privilege requirement for exploitation means that attackers must already have elevated network access to the database server, but once achieved, the impact is severe and immediate. Organizations running affected MySQL versions face the risk of extended downtime, potential data access interruptions, and operational costs associated with system recovery and security remediation. The vulnerability's availability impact score of 4.9 indicates that the consequences of successful exploitation directly affect the system's ability to provide services to legitimate users.
The security implications extend beyond simple service disruption as this vulnerability can be leveraged as part of broader attack campaigns targeting database infrastructure. Attackers may use this weakness to establish persistent access patterns or as a stepping stone for additional attacks within network environments where MySQL servers are deployed. The vulnerability's characteristics align with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation in software systems, and can be mapped to ATT&CK techniques involving service stoppage and availability disruption. Organizations should prioritize patch management for this vulnerability and implement network segmentation controls to limit access to database servers, particularly those running affected MySQL versions. The CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H) clearly demonstrates that this vulnerability requires network access, low complexity, high privilege requirements, and results in complete availability impact without compromising confidentiality or integrity.