This week, a researcher disclosed a serious zero day vulnerability in MySQL Server, as well as the partial proof-of-concept (PoC) needed to exploit it. If you’re a MySQL administrator, watch the video below to learn more about this issue and its ramifications. I also cover a few mitigations, and you’ll find more in the researcher’s advisory. I’ll update this post as soon as Oracle releases a patch.
Episode Runtime: 3:04
Direct YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evqpton2XiQ
EPISODE REFERENCES:
- Researcher’s MySQL 0day advisory – Legal Hackers
- Good article discussing the MySQL flaws – PC World
- Forum thread discussing the true impact of the flaws – Ycombinator
— Corey Nachreiner, CISSP (@SecAdept)
A couple simple points to add here.
First, all MySQL installations associated with Internet facing websites should be hosted such that network connections to MySQL are only allowed from whitelisted IP addresses.
Second, properly hardened websites are already using heavy screening and autoblocking capabilities for these sorts of attacks associated with malicious SQL queries.
For example, Akeeba Admin Tools Pro when properly configured will not only protect against this type of problem, but will log the attempts and autoblock the attacker’s IP address.
So how big of a risk profile is this for properly secured websites really?
I do have concerns about WordPress websites though considering that there is really no viable way to implement web application firewalls on WordPress.
I read a fascinating post by the head of Akeeba where he discussed his opinions that there would never be a version of Akeeba Admin Tools Pro for WordPress because it cannot be done due to the insecure nature of wordpress.
Love the new video format, great to see the progress over the years! If you don’t mind a suggestion, check the color balance on your camera. You’ve acquired a Trump-like orange color in the last few months. Probably because your camera sees all the green screen behind you and tries to compensate by pushing everything towards the orange. Try setting the color using a sheet of paper, then lock it down. Keep up the great reporting!
Great suggestions. I have made more produced videos with a team before, and when we do that we always have the cameraman pull focus manually, and manually whitebalance. However, I do my daily bytes gorilla style. It’s harder to set manual setting since I don’t have someone in front of the camera, when I’m adjusting. So I’ve had to rely on auto settings occasionally. However, I do NOT want an orange Trumpish glow! Lately, the whitebalance should be a bit better.