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MySQL client contains buffer overflow

Vulnerability Note VU#123384

Original Release Date: 2001-02-18 | Last Revised: 2001-02-18

Overview

MySQL is a popular open source database package. The MySQL client that ships with the MySQL package contains a buffer overflow.

Description

The mysql program, part of the MySQL package, contains a buffer overflow in the host parameter. An intruder who invokes mysql using a specially crafted hostname can execute arbitrary code. Because mysql is not setuid or setgid, a local attacker is unable to use this vulnerability to gain additional privileges under most circumstances. However, when PHP is compiled with MySQL support, it is linked to the library containing the buffer overflow, libmysqlclient.so. If a PHP script or other program establishes a connection to a MySQL database and accepts the hostname argument from untrusted sources, an intruder may be able to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server.

See also VU#367320.

Impact

The impact of this vulnerability depends on the context in which MySQL is used, and may vary on a site-by-site basis.

Solution

Upgrade to MySQL version 3.23.33 or later.

Vendor Information

123384
 

MySQL Affected

Updated:  February 17, 2001

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 appears to have been addressed in MySQL version 3.23.33 and later as shown in http://www.mysql.com/doc/N/e/News-3.23.33.html.

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


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References

Acknowledgements

Our thanks to Joao Gouveia who discovered this vulnerability and posted it to the securityfocus.com BugTraq mailing list on February 9, 2001.

This document was written by Shawn V. Hernan.

Other Information

CVE IDs: None
Severity Metric: 11.44
Date Public: 2001-02-09
Date First Published: 2001-02-18
Date Last Updated: 2001-02-18 04:05 UTC
Document Revision: 6

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