# CVE-2005-1636: Path traversal in n/a

> Local attackers can execute arbitrary SQL commands by exploiting predictable filenames and insecure permissions in mysql_install_db.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.6 (`AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 17 May 2005
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DSA-783-1, GHSA-pww4-5979-pcmm, RHSA-2005:685

## What is CVE-2005-1636?

CVE-2005-1636 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Mysql Mysql, published on 17 May 2005. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

mysql_install_db in MySQL 4.1.x before 4.1.12 and 5.x up to 5.0.4 creates the mysql_install_db.X file with a predictable filename and insecure permissions, which allows local users to execute arbitrary SQL commands by modifying the file's contents.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2005-1636?

It affects 2 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `mysql` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | All versions | 0:4.1.12-3.RHEL4.1 |
| `mysql-bench` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | All versions | 0:4.1.12-3.RHEL4.1 |
| `mysql-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | All versions | 0:4.1.12-3.RHEL4.1 |
| `mysql-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | All versions | 0:4.1.12-3.RHEL4.1 |
| `mysql-server` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | All versions | 0:4.1.12-3.RHEL4.1 |
| `mysql` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::desktop | All versions | 0:4.1.12-3.RHEL4.1 |
| `mysql-bench` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::desktop | All versions | 0:4.1.12-3.RHEL4.1 |
| `mysql-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::desktop | All versions | 0:4.1.12-3.RHEL4.1 |
| `mysql-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::desktop | All versions | 0:4.1.12-3.RHEL4.1 |
| `mysql-server` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::desktop | All versions | 0:4.1.12-3.RHEL4.1 |
| `mysql` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::es | All versions | 0:4.1.12-3.RHEL4.1 |
| `mysql-bench` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::es | All versions | 0:4.1.12-3.RHEL4.1 |
| `mysql-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::es | All versions | 0:4.1.12-3.RHEL4.1 |
| `mysql-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::es | All versions | 0:4.1.12-3.RHEL4.1 |
| `mysql-server` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::es | All versions | 0:4.1.12-3.RHEL4.1 |
| `mysql` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::ws | All versions | 0:4.1.12-3.RHEL4.1 |
| `mysql-bench` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::ws | All versions | 0:4.1.12-3.RHEL4.1 |
| `mysql-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::ws | All versions | 0:4.1.12-3.RHEL4.1 |
| `mysql-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::ws | All versions | 0:4.1.12-3.RHEL4.1 |
| `mysql-server` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::ws | All versions | 0:4.1.12-3.RHEL4.1 |

Products: Mysql Mysql, Oracle Mysql.

## How do I fix CVE-2005-1636?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2005-1636 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2005-1636 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Mysql Mysql

- [CVE-2004-0627](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0627/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-0628](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0628/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2009-2446](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-2446/): Other in n/a (high 8.5)
- [CVE-2012-0553](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-0553/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2013-1492](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-1492/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2005-1636 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2005-1636 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Mysql Mysql, published on 17 May 2005. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2005-1636 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Mysql Mysql. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-1636/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-1636/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2005-1636
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2005-1636
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2005-1636

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-1636/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.