Port 3306: MySQL
Analyze default service protocols, historical security vulnerabilities, hardening methods, and firewall rules for port 3306.
1. Port Purpose & Usage
MySQL is a popular open-source relational database management system. Port 3306 is the default port used by clients and applications to connect to the database server.
Common Service Implementations
The default Oracle-backed open source relational database server.
An enterprise-grade, open-source fork of MySQL.
2. Security Risks & Vulnerability Profiles
Exposing MySQL publicly on port 3306 is a major security risk. It invites automated brute-force attacks against database passwords. Any SQL injection or authentication bypass vulnerability can lead to direct database compromise or server control.
Historical CVE References
MySQL Password Authentication Bypass. A critical flaw in the authentication protocol allowed remote attackers to sign in to MySQL servers without knowing the password simply by repeating connection attempts.
MariaDB Privilege Escalation. An arbitrary library loading vulnerability allowed authenticated attackers to run code on the system with root privileges.
3. Hardening & Mitigation Checklist
4. Firewall Command Examples
Use the following system configurations to restrict open port exposure on Linux hosts:
Further Analysis
Database & Cache Ports
Ports often operate in clusters. When analyzing a service on Port 3306, security engineers typically check the status of these related ports.