CVE-2024-21508: Mysql2 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-fpw7-j2hg-69v5
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-94
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2024-21508 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')) affecting Mysql2 libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves mysql2 remote code execution (rce) via the readcodefor function. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.9.4.

CVE-2024-21508 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2024-21508
GHSA Identifier GHSA-fpw7-j2hg-69v5
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
Affected Product Mysql2
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2024-21508

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Mysql2 dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

mysql2 fixed: 3.9.4 
npm install mysql2@3.9.4
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

npm ls mysql2

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2024-21508, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls mysql2

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Mysql2 in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.9.4), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls mysql2 command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. In Mysql2, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Versions of the package mysql2 before 3.9.4 are vulnerable to Remote Code Execution (RCE) via the `readCodeFor` function due to improper validation of the `supportBigNumbers` and `bigNumberStrings` values.

CVE-2024-21508 Affected Mysql2 Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.9.4
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
mysql2
npm/mysql2
npm
< 3.9.4
3.9.4

References

NVD — CVE-2024-21508 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-21508
Mysql2 Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/sidorares/node-mysql2/pull/2572
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/sidorares/node-mysql2/commit/74abf9ef94d76114d9a09415e28b496522a94805
blog.slonser.info/posts/mysql2-attack... WEB
https://blog.slonser.info/posts/mysql2-attacker-configuration
Mysql2 Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/sidorares/node-mysql2
Mysql2 Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/sidorares/node-mysql2/blob/1609b5393516d72a4ae47196837317fbe75e0c13/lib/parsers/text_parser.js%23L14C10-L14C21
Mysql2 Release RELEASE
https://github.com/sidorares/node-mysql2/releases/tag/v3.9.4
Mysql2 Security Information SECURITY
https://security.snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-MYSQL2-6591085

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2024-21508?
CVE-2024-21508 is a security vulnerability in Mysql2 involving mysql2 Remote Code Execution (RCE) via the readCodeFor function under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection').
Which Mysql2 versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.9.4 across affected packages: mysql2.
What version fixes CVE-2024-21508?
Upgrading to 3.9.4 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is mysql2 affected?
Yes, mysql2 is affected in releases prior to 3.9.4. Upgrade your dependency to 3.9.4 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2024-21508?
CVE-2024-21508 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2024-21508?
CVE-2024-21508 is classified under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') (The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2024-21508?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls mysql2'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-fpw7-j2hg-69v5",
  "modified" : "2024-04-12T13:50:59Z",
  "published" : "2024-04-11T06:30:35Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2024-21508" ],
  "summary" : "mysql2 Remote Code Execution (RCE) via the readCodeFor function",
  "details" : "Versions of the package mysql2 before 3.9.4 are vulnerable to Remote Code Execution (RCE) via the `readCodeFor` function due to improper validation of the `supportBigNumbers` and `bigNumberStrings` values.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "mysql2"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.9.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-21508"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/sidorares/node-mysql2/pull/2572"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/sidorares/node-mysql2/commit/74abf9ef94d76114d9a09415e28b496522a94805"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://blog.slonser.info/posts/mysql2-attacker-configuration"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/sidorares/node-mysql2"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/sidorares/node-mysql2/blob/1609b5393516d72a4ae47196837317fbe75e0c13/lib/parsers/text_parser.js%23L14C10-L14C21"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/sidorares/node-mysql2/releases/tag/v3.9.4"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-MYSQL2-6591085"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-94" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-04-12T13:50:58Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2024-04-11T05:15:47Z"
  }
}