4.9 - RHSA-2008:0768

Problem Description:

Updated mysql packages that fix various security issues, several bugs, and add an enhancement are now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.

This update has been rated as having moderate security impact by the Red Hat Security Response Team.

2. Relevant releases/architectures:

Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 4 - i386, ia64, ppc, s390, s390x, x86_64 Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop version 4 - i386, x86_64 Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 4 - i386, ia64, x86_64 Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 4 - i386, ia64, x86_64

3. Description:

MySQL is a multi-user, multi-threaded SQL database server. MySQL is a client/server implementation consisting of a server daemon (mysqld), and many different client programs and libraries.

MySQL did not correctly check directories used as arguments for the DATA DIRECTORY and INDEX DIRECTORY directives. Using this flaw, an authenticated attacker could elevate their access privileges to tables created by other database users. Note: this attack does not work on existing tables. An attacker can only elevate their access to another user's tables as the tables are created. As well, the names of these created tables need to be predicted correctly for this attack to succeed. (CVE-2008-2079)

MySQL did not require the "DROP" privilege for "RENAME TABLE" statements. An authenticated user could use this flaw to rename arbitrary tables. (CVE-2007-2691)

MySQL allowed an authenticated user to access a table through a previously created MERGE table, even after the user's privileges were revoked from the original table, which might violate intended security policy. This is addressed by allowing the MERGE storage engine to be disabled, which can be done by running mysqld with the "--skip-merge" option. (CVE-2006-4031)

A flaw in MySQL allowed an authenticated user to cause the MySQL daemon to crash via crafted SQL queries. This only caused a temporary denial of service, as the MySQL daemon is automatically restarted after the crash. (CVE-2006-3469)

As well, these updated packages fix the following bugs:

* in the previous mysql packages, if a column name was referenced more than once in an "ORDER BY" section of a query, a segmentation fault occurred.

* when MySQL failed to start, the init script returned a successful (0) exit code. When using the Red Hat Cluster Suite, this may have caused cluster services to report a successful start, even when MySQL failed to start. In these updated packages, the init script returns the correct exit codes, which resolves this issue.

* it was possible to use the mysqld_safe command to specify invalid port numbers (higher than 65536), causing invalid ports to be created, and, in some cases, a "port number definition: unsigned short" error. In these updated packages, when an invalid port number is specified, the default port number is used.

* when setting "myisam_repair_threads > 1", any repair set the index cardinality to "1", regardless of the table size.

* the MySQL init script no longer runs "chmod -R" on the entire database directory tree during every startup.

* when running "mysqldump" with the MySQL 4.0 compatibility mode option, "--compatible=mysql40", mysqldump created dumps that omitted the "auto_increment" field.

As well, the MySQL init script now uses more reliable methods for determining parameters, such as the data directory location.

Note: these updated packages upgrade MySQL to version 4.1.22. For a full list of bug fixes and enhancements, refer to the MySQL release notes: http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/4.1/en/news-4-1-22.html

All mysql users are advised to upgrade to these updated packages, which resolve these issues and add this enhancement.

4. Solution:

Before applying this update, make sure that all previously-released errata relevant to your system have been applied.

This update is available via Red Hat Network. Details on how to use the Red Hat Network to apply this update are available at http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/FAQ_58_10188

5. Bugs fixed (http://bugzilla.redhat.com/):

201904 - CVE-2006-3469 mysql server DoS 201988 - Queries using a column name multiple times in ORDER BY crash mysql 202246 - CVE-2006-4031 MySQL improper permission revocation 221085 - chown -R of the mysql data directory every startup 233771 - RFE+patch: MySQLd "init.d" startup script should rely on "/usr/bin/my_print_defaults" to get at options 241688 - CVE-2007-2691 mysql DROP privilege not enforced when renaming tables 445222 - CVE-2008-2079 mysql: privilege escalation via DATA/INDEX DIRECTORY directives