CVE-2021-2166 is a vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL, specifically within the DML component. This vulnerability affects supported versions 5.7.33 and prior as well as 8.0.23 and prior. It is classified with a CVSS 3.1 Base Score of 4.9, indicating a medium severity level due to its impact on availability.
Risk to organizations includes the potential for an attacker with high privileges and network access to exploit this vulnerability, leading to unauthorized crashes or repeated hangs of the MySQL Server, effectively causing a denial of service (DoS). Given the ease of exploitation and the severe impact on service availability, this vulnerability should be addressed promptly.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. Even without known public exploits, the potential for disruption makes it crucial for administrators to act swiftly to secure their MySQL environments.
The vulnerability was published on April 22, 2021, and has been marked as modified in subsequent updates. Organizations using affected versions should ensure they are patched to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Details
This vulnerability allows a high privileged attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise MySQL Server. Specifically, successful attacks can lead to unauthorized ability to cause a hang or frequently repeatable crash of MySQL Server, resulting in complete denial of service.
The CVSS score of 4.9 reflects its medium severity, with the following vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H). This indicates that the attack vector is network-based, the complexity is low, and high privileges are required.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient handling of certain requests which allows an attacker with high privileges to trigger conditions that can cause the server to hang or crash. The attack vector is network-based, meaning that attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely without requiring physical access to the server.
The attack complexity is assessed as low, as it does not require any specialized conditions to be met other than the attacker's high privilege status. Importantly, no user interaction is required for the exploitation of this vulnerability.
The impact of a successful attack primarily affects availability, as the server can be rendered unusable due to repeated crashes or hangs.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world risk associated with CVE-2021-2166 is significant, particularly for organizations that rely on MySQL for critical database services. The potential for a denial of service attack means that organizations may experience unexpected downtime, which can lead to loss of revenue, reduced customer trust, and damage to brand reputation.
Given the CVSS score of 4.9, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle. The potential blast radius of this vulnerability increases when considering deployments across multiple environments, where a single exploitation can affect numerous services.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
Affected versions of MySQL include 5.7.33 and prior, and 8.0.23 and prior. Organizations should ensure they are using patched versions to mitigate this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should apply the latest security patches for MySQL as recommended by Oracle. Specifically, ensure that all installations are updated to versions beyond 5.7.33 and 8.0.23 to eliminate the risk posed by CVE-2021-2166. If patches are unavailable or not applicable, consider implementing network controls to limit access to the MySQL server and monitor for unusual activity.
Penetration testing can also help validate the security posture post-remediation.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, monitor MySQL logs for unusual patterns, particularly during high-load periods. Look for repeated error messages or crash reports that could indicate an ongoing attack. Additionally, network traffic should be scrutinized for unauthorized access attempts.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2021-2166 lies in its demonstration of how even medium-severity vulnerabilities can lead to substantial operational impacts if left unaddressed. Organizations are advised to maintain a proactive vulnerability management program to address such risks before they can be exploited.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of timely patching and the need for continuous security assessments. To enhance your security posture, consider reviewing the latest best practices in penetration testing methodology and integrating them into your security strategy.
Furthermore, engaging in vulnerability management program design can help organizations identify and mitigate vulnerabilities effectively.
In conclusion, while CVE-2021-2166 may not currently have known exploits, its potential for disruption underscores the necessity for rigorous security measures in database management.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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