CVE-2021-35636 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been identified in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL, specifically in the Server Optimizer component. This vulnerability, assigned CVE-2021-35636, affects versions 8.0.26 and prior, potentially allowing a high-privileged attacker with network access to compromise the MySQL Server.

Understanding CVE-2021-35636

This section provides detailed insights into the nature of the vulnerability and its potential impact.

What is CVE-2021-35636?

The vulnerability in the MySQL Server entails an easily exploitable flaw that could enable a high-privileged attacker to compromise the server. Successful exploitation may lead to unauthorized disruptions in the server's operation, causing hang-ups or repeated crashes, ultimately resulting in a denial of service (DoS) situation with a CVSS 3.1 Base Score of 4.9.

The Impact of CVE-2021-35636

The impact of this vulnerability is considered medium severity, with a high availability impact. While confidentiality and integrity remain unaffected, attackers could potentially disrupt the MySQL Server's operations, leading to service unavailability.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-35636

This section delves into the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers with network access to compromise the MySQL Server, leading to disruptive actions such as server hang-ups and repeated crashes.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects MySQL Server versions 8.0.26 and earlier.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with high privileges and network access can exploit this vulnerability to compromise the MySQL Server.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we outline the immediate steps to take and best practices to enhance security posture against CVE-2021-35636.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations should apply relevant security patches and updates to mitigate the risk associated with CVE-2021-35636. Additionally, restricting network access and privileges can help reduce the vulnerability's impact.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust network security measures, regularly monitoring and updating systems, and conducting security audits can enhance the overall security posture and resilience against potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Timely installation of security patches released by Oracle Corporation and adhering to best practices for secure server configuration can prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.