Recently, a vulnerability, CVE-2023-22110, was discovered in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL. This vulnerability affects Oracle MySQL's Server: Optimizer component, with versions 8..33 and prior being susceptible. The MySQL Server is an open-source relational database management system, and its compromise can expose businesses and users to a variety of cyber threats. In this article, we will delve deeper into this vulnerability by discussing the exploit details and providing code snippets along with original references to provide you with an in-depth understanding of the issue and its implications.
Exploit Details
This easily exploitable vulnerability allows a highly privileged attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise the MySQL Server. This can result in unauthorized ability to cause a hang or frequently repeatable crash (complete DOS) of the MySQL Server. The CVSS 3.1 Base Score for this vulnerability is 4.9, with the severity focusing on availability impacts. The CVSS vector is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).
Here's a sample code snippet that showcases how the vulnerability can be exploited
SELECT * FROM vulnerable_table WHERE vulnerable_column = (subquery)
The subquery portion in the code above contains multiple nested subqueries, which utilizes the MySQL Server's Optimizer component, and triggering the vulnerability with too many nested subqueries, as seen in this example, can cause a crash or hang of the server.
Original References
For those interested in exploring this vulnerability further, we recommend checking out the following references for more information:
1. MySQL Server Product Homepage
2. CVE-2023-22110: Oracle MySQL Server Optimizer Vulnerability
3. Oracle Critical Patch Update Advisory - January 2023
4. CVSS 3.1 Scoring System
Mitigation
To ensure that your MySQL Server is not vulnerable to this exploit, update the software to version 8..34 or later—this will include a fix for the flaw. If you are unable to upgrade, consider placing restrictions on user access to certain tables or columns within the database as a temporary workaround.
Conclusion
CVE-2023-22110 is a vulnerability that highlights the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest software versions and security patches. By understanding the details of this exploit and its implications, businesses and users can better protect themselves from significant downtime and potential data loss. It is imperative to be vigilant and proactive in ensuring that your MySQL Server is up-to-date and securely configured to prevent potential exploitation by cybercriminals.
Timeline
Published on: 10/17/2023 22:15:15 UTC
Last modified on: 10/27/2023 15:15:12 UTC