CVE-2008-4098

CVE-2008-4098 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Mysql with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.6. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-59.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 4.6)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (73rd percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-59
• Affected product: Mysql
• Published: 2008-09-18
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

MySQL before 5.0.67 allows local users to bypass certain privilege checks by calling CREATE TABLE on a MyISAM table with modified (1) DATA DIRECTORY or (2) INDEX DIRECTORY arguments that are originally associated with pathnames without symlinks, and that can point to tables created at a future time at which a pathname is modified to contain a symlink to a subdirectory of the MySQL home data directory. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2008-4097.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-4098?

MySQL before 5.0.67 allows local users to bypass certain privilege checks by calling CREATE TABLE on a MyISAM table with modified (1) DATA DIRECTORY or (2) INDEX DIRECTORY arguments that are originally associated with pathnames without symlinks, and that can point to tables created at a future time at which a pathname is modified to contain a symlink to a subdirectory of the MySQL home data directory. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2008-4097.

How severe is CVE-2008-4098?

CVE-2008-4098 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.6, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2008-4098 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (73rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2008-4098?

CVE-2008-4098 primarily affects Mysql. In total, 52 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2008-4098?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2008-4098 published?

CVE-2008-4098 was published on 2008-09-18 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=480292#25
• http://bugs.mysql.com/bug.php?id=32167
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-11/msg00001.html
• http://secunia.com/advisories/32578
• http://secunia.com/advisories/32759
• http://secunia.com/advisories/32769
• http://secunia.com/advisories/38517
• http://ubuntu.com/usn/usn-897-1
• http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1662
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:094
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/09/09/20
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/09/16/3
• http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2009-1067.html
• http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0110.html
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1397-1
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-671-1
• https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/45649
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10591

Affected products (52)

• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:6.06:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:7.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:9.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:9.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mysql:mysql:5.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mysql:mysql:5.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mysql:mysql:5.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mysql:mysql:5.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mysql:mysql:5.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mysql:mysql:5.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mysql:mysql:5.0.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mysql:mysql:5.0.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mysql:mysql:5.0.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mysql:mysql:5.0.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mysql:mysql:5.0.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mysql:mysql:5.0.24:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mysql:mysql:5.0.30:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mysql:mysql:5.0.36:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mysql:mysql:5.0.44:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mysql:mysql:5.0.54:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mysql:mysql:5.0.56:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mysql:mysql:5.0.60:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:mysql:mysql:5.0.66:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:oracle:mysql:5.0.23:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:oracle:mysql:5.0.25:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:oracle:mysql:5.0.26:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:oracle:mysql:5.0.28:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:oracle:mysql:5.0.30:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:oracle:mysql:5.0.32:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:oracle:mysql:5.0.34:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:oracle:mysql:5.0.36:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:oracle:mysql:5.0.38:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:oracle:mysql:5.0.40:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:oracle:mysql:5.0.41:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:oracle:mysql:5.0.42:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:oracle:mysql:5.0.44:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:oracle:mysql:5.0.45:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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