CVE-2021-35596 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been identified in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL, specifically in the Server's Error Handling component. This vulnerability affects versions 8.0.26 and prior, allowing a high-privileged attacker with network access to compromise the MySQL Server. Successful exploitation may lead to a denial of service (DOS) attack.

Understanding CVE-2021-35596

This section will delve into the details of CVE-2021-35596, including its impact, technical description, affected systems, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2021-35596?

The vulnerability in MySQL Server allows a high-privileged attacker to exploit the Error Handling component, compromising the server and potentially causing a DOS attack. The affected versions are 8.0.26 and prior.

The Impact of CVE-2021-35596

The vulnerability poses a medium severity threat with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 4.9. Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized access, leading to a denial of service through server crashes or hangs.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-35596

In this section, we will explore the technical aspects of CVE-2021-35596, including the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

This vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL allows high-privileged attackers with network access to compromise the server via the Error Handling component. Successful exploitation can lead to a denial of service by causing server crashes.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects MySQL Server versions 8.0.26 and prior.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with high privileges and network access can exploit this vulnerability, compromising the MySQL server and potentially causing a DOS attack.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section will outline steps to mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2021-35596 and safeguard systems against exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

System administrators should apply security patches provided by Oracle to address the vulnerability promptly. Additionally, restricting network access to vulnerable servers can help reduce the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing network segmentation, regular security audits, and access controls can enhance the overall security posture of MySQL servers.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitoring for security updates from Oracle and promptly applying patches is crucial to prevent potential exploitation of known vulnerabilities.