search menu icon-carat-right cmu-wordmark

CERT Coordination Center

MySQL allows default user to be changed to root via custom "my.cnf" file

Vulnerability Note VU#203897

Original Release Date: 2003-03-18 | Last Revised: 2003-03-20

Overview

MySQL reads configuration options from world-writeable files. This can lead to a remote user gaining elevated privileges.

Description

A message posted to the bugtraq mailing list details a vulnerability affecting versions of MySQL prior to 3.23.56. MySQL would permit users with 'FILE' permissions to create and edit world-writeable configuration files. Upon rebooting the server, MySQL would read these files and be configured to give a remote user elevated privileges.

Impact

Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to a remote user gaining elevated privileges and subsequently gaining control of the MySQL database.

Solution

Version 3.23.56 of MySQL resolves this issue. Likewise, you may apply the patch or upgrade supplied by your vendor for this issue.

Vendor Information

203897
 

MySQL Affected

Updated:  March 18, 2003

Status

Affected

Vendor Statement

We have not received a statement from the vendor.

Vendor Information

The vendor has not provided us with any further information regarding this vulnerability.

Addendum

This issue is reported as resolved in the announcement for version 3.23.56:

OpenPKG Affected

Updated:  March 18, 2003

Status

Affected

Vendor Statement

Please see http://www.openpkg.org/security/OpenPKG-SA-2003.022-mysql.html

Vendor Information

The vendor has not provided us with any further information regarding this vulnerability.

Addendum

The CERT/CC has no additional comments at this time.

If you have feedback, comments, or additional information about this vulnerability, please send us email.

Trustix Affected

Updated:  March 18, 2003

Status

Affected

Vendor Statement

Please see http://www.trustix.net/errata/misc/2003/TSL-2003-0009-mysql.asc.txt

Vendor Information

The vendor has not provided us with any further information regarding this vulnerability.

Addendum

The CERT/CC has no additional comments at this time.

If you have feedback, comments, or additional information about this vulnerability, please send us email.


CVSS Metrics

Group Score Vector
Base
Temporal
Environmental

References

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Gufino for reporting this vulnerability.

This document was written by Jason A Rafail.

Other Information

CVE IDs: CVE-2003-0150
Severity Metric: 9.43
Date Public: 2003-03-08
Date First Published: 2003-03-18
Date Last Updated: 2003-03-20 16:12 UTC
Document Revision: 8

Sponsored by CISA.