Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-2144 is a high-severity Oracle MySQL Server parser vulnerability. An attacker already holding high privileges and network access to MySQL could compromise the server, potentially affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability. This is not described as unauthenticated internet takeover, but the business impact is serious where privileged database access is exposed or poorly controlled.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for production databases, systems holding sensitive data, and deployments with broad administrative access. The required privilege level reduces likelihood compared with unauthenticated flaws, but successful compromise could mean database server takeover.
Technical view
The issue affects Oracle MySQL Server, component Server: Parser, in supported versions 5.7.29 and prior and 8.0.19 and prior. CVSS is 7.2 with AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Sources state successful exploitation can result in takeover of MySQL Server. No CWE is provided in the bundle.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in environments running affected MySQL Server versions where high-privileged database users can connect over network-accessible MySQL protocols. Systems with restricted administrative access and segmented database networks have lower practical exposure, but affected versions still require remediation planning.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. Exploitation is described as easy, but it requires high privileges and network access. Treat this as a high-impact privileged-path vulnerability, not as confirmed mass exploitation.
Researcher notes
Public detail in the provided sources is limited to Oracle’s component, affected versions, CVSS vector, and impact statement. No exploit details, CWE, or active exploitation evidence are provided. Validation should focus on version exposure, privileged access paths, and vendor patch status rather than exploit reproduction.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade MySQL Server beyond affected versions using Oracle April 2021 CPU guidance.
- Prioritize internet-reachable or broadly network-accessible MySQL deployments.
- Restrict MySQL administrative access to trusted networks and approved operators.
- Review NetApp guidance for products or appliances that may include affected MySQL components.
- Remove unnecessary high-privileged MySQL accounts and enforce least privilege.
Validation and detection
- Inventory MySQL Server versions across servers, containers, and managed appliances.
- Flag MySQL 5.7.29 and prior, and 8.0.19 and prior.
- Confirm Oracle CPU fixes or vendor appliance updates are applied.
- Review firewall rules and security groups for MySQL protocol exposure.
- Audit high-privileged MySQL accounts and recent administrative access.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2021-2144 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.2 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.25.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.2HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2021.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210513-0002/CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.