CVE-2018-2781 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been discovered in the Oracle MySQL Server that affects versions 5.5.59 and earlier, 5.6.39 and earlier, and 5.7.21 and earlier. This vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker with elevated privileges and network access through multiple protocols, potentially compromising the MySQL Server. If successfully exploited, this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized actions that cause the server to hang or crash repeatedly, resulting in a denial of service. This vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS 3.0 Base Score of 4.9, indicating its impact on availability.

Understanding CVE-2018-2781

This CVE pertains to a vulnerability in the MySQL Server component of Oracle MySQL, specifically affecting versions 5.5.59 and prior, 5.6.39 and prior, and 5.7.21 and prior.

What is CVE-2018-2781?

CVE-2018-2781 is a vulnerability in the Oracle MySQL Server that allows a high privileged attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise the server. Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized actions leading to server hang or crash.

The Impact of CVE-2018-2781

The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker with elevated privileges and network access through multiple protocols.
Successful exploitation can compromise the MySQL Server, potentially causing it to hang or crash repeatedly.
This can result in a denial of service, impacting the availability of the server.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-2781

The technical details of CVE-2018-2781 provide insight into the vulnerability and its implications.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows a high privileged attacker with network access to compromise the MySQL Server.
Successful attacks can lead to unauthorized actions causing the server to hang or crash.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: MySQL Server
Vendor: Oracle Corporation
Affected Versions: 5.5.59 and prior, 5.6.39 and prior, 5.7.21 and prior

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with elevated privileges and network access can exploit the vulnerability through multiple protocols.
Unauthorized actions can cause the server to hang or crash, resulting in a denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-2781, it is crucial to take immediate steps and implement long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Oracle Corporation.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity.
Restrict network access to the MySQL Server.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch the MySQL Server to address known vulnerabilities.
Implement strong access controls and authentication mechanisms.
Conduct regular security audits and assessments.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates from Oracle Corporation.
Promptly apply patches and updates to ensure the server's security.