CVE-2023-21860 : What You Need to Know

This CVE record was published on January 18, 2023, by Oracle. It involves a vulnerability in the MySQL Cluster product of Oracle MySQL that allows a high privileged attacker to compromise MySQL Cluster. The vulnerability affects certain versions of MySQL Cluster and can potentially lead to a takeover of the system.

Understanding CVE-2023-21860

This section will delve into what CVE-2023-21860 is, its impact, technical details, and how to mitigate and prevent exploitation.

What is CVE-2023-21860?

CVE-2023-21860 is a difficult-to-exploit vulnerability in the MySQL Cluster product of Oracle MySQL. It allows a high privileged attacker with access to the physical communication segment attached to the hardware where MySQL Cluster executes to compromise the system. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and can result in a takeover of MySQL Cluster.

The Impact of CVE-2023-21860

The impact of CVE-2023-21860 is significant as it allows attackers to compromise MySQL Cluster, leading to potential confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts. The CVSS 3.1 Base Score for this vulnerability is 6.3, indicating a medium severity level.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-21860

This section will provide detailed technical information about the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems and versions, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in MySQL Cluster allows a high privileged attacker to compromise the system by accessing the physical communication segment attached to the hardware. Successful attacks, requiring human interaction, can result in a takeover of MySQL Cluster.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected product is Oracle MySQL Cluster, with the following versions impacted:

MySQL Cluster 7.4.38 and prior
MySQL Cluster 7.5.28 and prior
MySQL Cluster 7.6.24 and prior
MySQL Cluster 8.0.31 and prior

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation of this vulnerability requires a high privileged attacker with access to the physical communication segment attached to the executing hardware of MySQL Cluster. Successful attacks involve human interaction and can lead to a compromise of the system.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we will discuss the steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2023-21860.

Immediate Steps to Take

Oracle recommends applying the necessary patches provided in their security advisory.
Restricting access to the physical communication segment attached to the hardware executing MySQL Cluster can help mitigate the risk.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update MySQL Cluster software to ensure that known vulnerabilities are addressed promptly.
Implement security best practices to limit access and prevent unauthorized users from compromising the system.

Patching and Updates

Oracle has released patches to address CVE-2023-21860. It is crucial to apply these patches as soon as possible to secure MySQL Cluster from potential exploitation.