CVE-2024-20965: What You Need to Know

This CVE record was published by Oracle on January 16, 2024, highlighting a vulnerability in the MySQL Server product that can be exploited by a high privileged attacker with network access via multiple protocols. The vulnerability affects certain versions of Oracle MySQL, potentially leading to unauthorized actions that can cause a hang or crash of MySQL Server.

Understanding CVE-2024-20965

This section delves into the specifics of CVE-2024-20965, shedding light on the nature of the vulnerability, its impact, affected systems and versions, as well as the necessary mitigation and prevention measures.

What is CVE-2024-20965?

CVE-2024-20965 is an easily exploitable vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL, specifically targeting versions 8.0.35 and earlier, as well as 8.2.0 and earlier. This vulnerability allows a high privileged attacker with network access to compromise MySQL Server.

The Impact of CVE-2024-20965

The successful exploitation of CVE-2024-20965 can result in the unauthorized ability to cause a hang or frequently repeatable crash (complete denial of service) of MySQL Server. The CVSS 3.1 Base Score for this vulnerability is 4.9, with a focus on availability impacts.

Technical Details of CVE-2024-20965

In this section, we explore the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism associated with CVE-2024-20965.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL, specifically in the Server Optimizer component, enables a high privileged attacker to compromise MySQL Server via multiple protocols.

Affected Systems and Versions

Oracle Corporation's MySQL NDB Cluster:

Versions up to and including 7.5.32
Versions up to and including 7.6.28
Versions up to and including 8.0.35
Versions up to and including 8.2.0

Oracle Corporation's MySQL Server:

Versions up to and including 8.0.35
Versions up to and including 8.2.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows a high privileged attacker with network access to compromise MySQL Server, leading to potential unauthorized actions such as causing a hang or crash of the server.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section focuses on the steps that can be taken to mitigate the impact of CVE-2024-20965 and prevent potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Patch affected versions of MySQL NDB Cluster and MySQL Server to the recommended versions.
Implement network security measures to restrict access to critical systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch MySQL Server to address known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and assessments to identify and mitigate risks proactively.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Oracle.
Apply security patches and updates in a timely manner to ensure the protection of MySQL Server from potential exploits.