CVE-2023-21873 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2023-21873 article provides insights into a vulnerability impacting Oracle's MySQL Server, potentially allowing a high-privileged attacker to compromise the server.

Understanding CVE-2023-21873

This section delves into the critical details regarding CVE-2023-21873.

What is CVE-2023-21873?

CVE-2023-21873 is a vulnerability found in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL, specifically in the Server Optimizer component. It affects supported versions 8.0.31 and earlier. Exploiting this vulnerability can grant a high-privileged attacker with network access the ability to compromise the MySQL Server. The successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized actions, including causing a hang or repetitively crashing the MySQL Server, leading to a complete denial of service (DOS) attack. The CVSS 3.1 Base Score for this vulnerability is 4.9, with an impact on availability.

The Impact of CVE-2023-21873

The vulnerability presents a medium-severity risk, with a Base Score of 4.9 according to the CVSS 3.1 metrics. An attacker with high privileges and network access can exploit the vulnerability to compromise the MySQL Server, potentially causing a denial of service by crashing or hanging the server.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-21873

Here we explore the technical aspects of CVE-2023-21873 along with the affected systems and versions.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability exposes Oracle's MySQL Server, allowing a high-privileged attacker with network access to compromise the server and perform unauthorized actions. Successful exploitation can result in frequent crashes or hangs of the MySQL Server, leading to a complete denial of service.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts Oracle Corporation's MySQL Server versions 8.0.31 and earlier, making them susceptible to exploitation by attackers with high privileges and network access.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging multiple protocols, a high-privileged attacker can exploit the vulnerability to compromise the MySQL Server, leading to potential DOS attacks by causing crashes or hang situations.

Mitigation and Prevention

Understanding the vulnerability is crucial for implementing effective security measures to mitigate and prevent potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Oracle users should update their MySQL Server to versions beyond 8.0.31 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Network administrators should restrict access to vulnerable servers to trusted users only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly implement security patches and updates for all software components, including MySQL Server, to prevent potential vulnerabilities.
Conduct regular security audits and assessments to identify and address any security gaps proactively.

Patching and Updates

Oracle has released security updates to address CVE-2023-21873. System administrators and users of MySQL Server are advised to apply these patches promptly to safeguard their systems against potential exploitation.