CVE-2022-21592: Oracle MySQL Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2022-21592 Overview

CVE-2022-21592 is a vulnerability in the MySQL Server product of Oracle MySQL, specifically affecting the Server: Security: Encryption component. This flaw allows a low-privileged attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise MySQL Server, resulting in unauthorized read access to a subset of MySQL Server accessible data.

Critical Impact

Low-privileged attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized read access to sensitive data within MySQL Server, potentially exposing confidential information stored in affected database instances.

Affected Products

• Oracle MySQL versions 5.7.39 and prior
• Oracle MySQL versions 8.0.29 and prior
• NetApp OnCommand Insight
• NetApp OnCommand Workflow Automation

Discovery Timeline

• 2022-10-18 - CVE-2022-21592 published to NVD
• 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2022-21592

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability resides in the Server: Security: Encryption component of Oracle MySQL Server. The flaw is characterized as an easily exploitable vulnerability that can be triggered by an authenticated attacker with low privileges. The attack can be conducted remotely over the network using multiple protocols, without requiring any user interaction.

The vulnerability's impact is limited to confidentiality, allowing attackers to read a subset of data accessible to the MySQL Server. There are no integrity or availability impacts associated with this vulnerability. The scope remains unchanged, meaning the vulnerable component and impacted component are the same.

Root Cause

The vulnerability stems from weaknesses in the Security: Encryption component of MySQL Server. While Oracle has not disclosed specific technical details about the root cause (classified as NVD-CWE-noinfo), the flaw appears to be related to improper handling of encryption operations that could allow authenticated users to access data beyond their authorized scope. This information disclosure vulnerability suggests potential issues in how the encryption component validates or restricts data access for low-privileged users.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2022-21592 is network-based, meaning an attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely without physical access to the target system. The exploitation process involves:

1. An attacker establishes a network connection to the MySQL Server using standard database protocols
2. The attacker authenticates with low-privileged credentials (standard user account)
3. By exploiting the encryption component vulnerability, the attacker can access data segments that should be restricted
4. No user interaction is required, allowing for automated exploitation once valid credentials are obtained

The vulnerability can be exploited via multiple protocols supported by MySQL Server, increasing the attack surface for potential exploitation.

Detection Methods for CVE-2022-21592

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual database queries accessing encrypted data from low-privileged user accounts
• Unexpected data access patterns in MySQL audit logs showing encryption-related operations
• Anomalous network traffic to MySQL Server ports (default 3306) from suspicious sources
• Authentication events followed by atypical data retrieval operations

Detection Strategies

• Enable MySQL Enterprise Audit to monitor and log all database access attempts
• Implement database activity monitoring to detect unusual query patterns from low-privileged users
• Configure network intrusion detection systems to monitor MySQL protocol traffic for suspicious patterns
• Review MySQL error logs for encryption-related anomalies or access violations

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor MySQL Server logs for unauthorized data access attempts on encrypted data
• Implement alerting for bulk data retrieval operations from low-privileged accounts
• Track user privilege escalation attempts and failed authentication events
• Establish baseline behavior for database access patterns and alert on deviations

How to Mitigate CVE-2022-21592

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Oracle MySQL Server to version 5.7.40 or later (for 5.7.x branch)
• Upgrade Oracle MySQL Server to version 8.0.30 or later (for 8.0.x branch)
• Review and restrict network access to MySQL Server instances
• Audit user privileges and remove unnecessary low-privileged accounts
• Apply NetApp security patches for OnCommand Insight and OnCommand Workflow Automation if applicable

Patch Information

Oracle has released security patches addressing CVE-2022-21592 in their October 2022 Critical Patch Update. Administrators should apply the appropriate patches based on their MySQL Server version:

• For MySQL 5.7.x: Upgrade to version 5.7.40 or later
• For MySQL 8.0.x: Upgrade to version 8.0.30 or later

Detailed patch information is available in the Oracle Security Alert - October 2022. NetApp users should consult the NetApp Security Advisory for guidance on affected products.

Workarounds

• Implement strict network segmentation to limit MySQL Server exposure
• Restrict MySQL Server access to only trusted IP addresses using firewall rules
• Minimize the number of low-privileged user accounts with network access
• Enable SSL/TLS encryption for all MySQL connections to add an additional security layer
• Consider implementing additional authentication mechanisms where possible

# Configuration example - Restrict MySQL network access
# Edit /etc/mysql/mysql.conf.d/mysqld.cnf or my.cnf
bind-address = 127.0.0.1  # Bind to localhost only if remote access not required

# Or use firewall rules to restrict access
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 3306 -s trusted_ip_address -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 3306 -j DROP