CVE-2018-3171 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in the Partition subcomponent of Oracle MySQL Server affecting versions 5.7.23 and earlier, as well as 8.0.12 and earlier, allows a high privileged attacker to compromise the server.

Understanding CVE-2018-3171

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Oracle MySQL Server that could lead to unauthorized actions and denial of service attacks.

What is CVE-2018-3171?

The vulnerability in the Partition subcomponent of Oracle MySQL Server impacts versions 5.7.23 and prior, as well as 8.0.12 and prior. It allows a high privileged attacker with network access through multiple protocols to compromise the MySQL Server.

The Impact of CVE-2018-3171

Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized actions like causing server crashes or hangs, leading to denial of service (DoS) attacks.
Attackers may gain unauthorized access to specific data in the MySQL Server for update, insert, or delete operations.
The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.0 Base Score of 5.0, affecting data integrity and availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-3171

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows a high privileged attacker to compromise the MySQL Server through network access, potentially leading to unauthorized actions and DoS attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: MySQL Server
Vendor: Oracle Corporation
Versions Affected: 5.7.23 and prior, 8.0.12 and prior

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is challenging to exploit but can be triggered by a high privileged attacker with network access through multiple protocols.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-3171 is crucial to maintain security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Oracle Corporation promptly.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities.
Restrict network access to the MySQL Server to authorized personnel only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch MySQL Server to address known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Conduct regular security audits and assessments to identify and mitigate risks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates from Oracle Corporation.
Ensure timely installation of patches to protect against known vulnerabilities.