CVE-2024-21207 - Vulnerability in MySQL Server InnoDB Component Leading to DOS Attacks

CVE-2024-21207 is a vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL, specifically in the InnoDB component, which can result in unauthorized ability to cause a complete denial of service (DOS) in the system. This vulnerability affects MySQL server versions 8..38 and prior, 8.4.1 and prior, and 9..1 and prior. A high privileged attacker with network access via multiple protocols can easily exploit this vulnerability, leading to a hang or frequently repeatable crash of the MySQL Server.

The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) base score for this vulnerability is 4.9, which falls under the "Availability impacts" category. The CVSS vector for this vulnerability is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.

References

- Oracle Critical Patch Update Advisory - October 2024
- MySQL Official Security Blog

Exploit Details

Although the actual code snippet for exploiting this vulnerability is not publicly available, an attacker with high privileges and network access can take advantage of this weakness in the InnoDB component. The attacker would send specially crafted requests to the MySQL Server, leveraging the identified vulnerability to cause a hang or frequent repeatable crash of the system.

A potential attack scenario could occur as follows

1. An attacker with high privileges gains network access to a MySQL Server running a vulnerable version.

2. Using the vulnerability located in the InnoDB component, the attacker sends a series of specially crafted requests to the MySQL Server.

3. The MySQL Server, unable to handle these requests properly, ends up hanging or frequently crashing, leading to a denial of service for the server's users.

Mitigation

To mitigate and patch this vulnerability, users are advised to update their MySQL Servers to the latest versions. Oracle has provided the necessary patches for affected versions in their October 2024 Critical Patch Update (CPU). Users should consult the CPU documentation and follow the instructions provided to apply the patches.

In addition to updating the software, users should consider implementing the principle of least privilege and network segmentation. Limiting access to MySQL Server and its components only to the authorized users and services reduces the attack surface for potential exploitation.

Conclusion

CVE-2024-21207 is a significant vulnerability affecting the InnoDB component of MySQL Server, which can lead to severe availability impacts and denial of service attacks. Users of affected versions should promptly apply the provided patches and follow best practices to reduce their risk of exploitation.

Timeline

Published on: 10/15/2024 20:15:09 UTC
Last modified on: 11/21/2024 08:53:58 UTC