#VU32164 Link following in MariaDB - CVE-2016-6664

Vulnerability identifier: #VU32164

Vulnerability risk: Low

CVSSv4.0: 7.3 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:A/U:Clear]

CVE-ID: CVE-2016-6664

CWE-ID: CWE-59

Exploitation vector: Local

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
MariaDB
Server applications / Database software

Vendor: MariaDB Foundation

Description

The vulnerability allows a local authenticated user to execute arbitrary code.

mysqld_safe in Oracle MySQL through 5.5.51, 5.6.x through 5.6.32, and 5.7.x through 5.7.14; MariaDB; Percona Server before 5.5.51-38.2, 5.6.x before 5.6.32-78-1, and 5.7.x before 5.7.14-8; and Percona XtraDB Cluster before 5.5.41-37.0, 5.6.x before 5.6.32-25.17, and 5.7.x before 5.7.14-26.17, when using file-based logging, allows local users with access to the mysql account to gain root privileges via a symlink attack on error logs and possibly other files.

Mitigation
Install update from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

MariaDB: 5.5.20 - 5.5.50

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External links
https://legalhackers.com/advisories/MySQL-Maria-Percona-RootPrivEsc-CVE-2016-6664-5617-Exploit.html
https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/139491/MySQL-MariaDB-PerconaDB-Root-Privilege-Escalation.html
https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2130.html
https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-2749.html
https://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2016/Nov/4
https://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3770
https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2016-2881722.html
https://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/539695/100/0/threaded
https://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93612
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:2192
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:0279
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:0574
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201702-18
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40679/
https://www.percona.com/blog/2016/11/02/percona-responds-to-cve-2016-6663-and-cve-2016-6664/

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

No. This vulnerability can be exploited locally. The attacker should have authentication credentials and successfully authenticate on the system.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

Yes. This vulnerability is being exploited in the wild.