Authentication Bypass Vulnerability in MySQL

Reported July 01, 2004, by NGSSoftware, Ltd.

VERSIONS AFFECTED

DESCRIPTION
MySQL AB's MySQL 5.0 and MySQL 4.1 (prior to 4.1.3) contain a bug that lets aremote user entirely bypass the MySQL password-authentication mechanism, sothat the user can authenticate as a MySQL user without a password. By using asimilar method, a stack buffer used in the authentication mechanism can beoverflowed, although exploitation of the overflow isn't straightforward. Bysubmitting a carefully crafted authentication packet, an attacker could bypasspassword authentication in MySQL 4.1. You can find more details about thisvulnerability on the discoverer's Web site.
 

VENDOR RESPONSE
MySQL AB has fixed this bug in the mostrecent builds of MySQL 5.0 and in MySQL 4.1.3.

CREDIT
Discovered by NGS Software, Ltd.