CVE-2023-21863 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2023-21863 involves a vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL, specifically in the Server Optimizer component. Attackers with high privileges and network access via multiple protocols can compromise the MySQL Server, potentially leading to unauthorized actions causing system hang or crashes.

Understanding CVE-2023-21863

This section will delve into the details of CVE-2023-21863, including what it is, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-21863?

CVE-2023-21863 is an easily exploitable vulnerability in Oracle's MySQL Server that allows a high-privileged attacker to compromise the server. The affected versions are MySQL Server 8.0.31 and prior.

The Impact of CVE-2023-21863

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could enable unauthorized actions that lead to system hang or repeatable crashes, causing a denial of service (DOS) condition for MySQL Server. The CVSS 3.1 Base Score for this vulnerability is 4.9, with an availability impact.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-21863

In this section, we will discuss the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and exploitation mechanism related to CVE-2023-21863.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the MySQL Server product allows attackers with network access to compromise the system, resulting in a DOS condition. The CVSS Vector for this vulnerability is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

Affected Systems and Versions

The impacted system is the Oracle MySQL Server, specifically versions 8.0.31 and prior.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with high privileges and network access via multiple protocols can exploit this vulnerability to compromise the MySQL Server, leading to unauthorized actions and potential system crashes.

Mitigation and Prevention

Mitigating and preventing CVE-2023-21863 is crucial to maintaining the security of Oracle's MySQL Server. Below are steps to address this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to a non-affected version of MySQL Server.
Implement network security measures to restrict high-privileged access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly check for security updates and patches provided by Oracle.
Conduct security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Keep the MySQL Server updated with the latest security patches and versions provided by Oracle to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities.