What is CVE-2009-2446?

CVE-2009-2446 is a vulnerability in MySQL, classified under Use of Externally-Controlled Format String. Published 2009-07-13.

Is CVE-2009-2446 known to be exploited?

14 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Vulnerability in MySQL

CVE-2009-2446

Multiple format string vulnerabilities in the dispatch_command function in libmysqld/sql_parse.cc in mysqld in MySQL 4.0.0 through 5.0.83 allow remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) and possibly have unspecified other impact via format string specifiers in a database name in a (1) COM_CREATE_DB or (2) COM_DROP_DB request. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.

Published 2009-07-13 · last modified 2026-06-16.

CVSS v2 metric

CVSS v2 base score 8.5 (High). Vector: AV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C. This CVE predates CVSS v3 and has no v3 score from NVD.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.106 (95.6th percentile), scored 2026-09-29.

Moderate probability of exploitation in the next 30 days — watch for active exploitation reports. 96th percentile — 95.6% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.106 · newest: 0.106 · change: 0.000

Affected products

MySQL — versions 4.1.0, 4.1.2, 4.1.3
Oracle MySQL — versions 4.0.0, 4.0.1, 4.0.2

Weakness classification (CWE)

CWE-134 — Use of Externally-Controlled Format String

Public proof-of-concept exploits

References

www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1397-1 (vendor-advisory)
archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2009-07/0058.html (mailing-list, Exploit)
www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/504799/100/0/threaded (mailing-list)
secunia.com/advisories/38517 (third-party-advisory)
ubuntu.com/usn/usn-897-1 (vendor-advisory)
www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2009-1289.html (vendor-advisory)
lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2010//Mar/msg00001.html (vendor-advisory)
securitytracker.com/id (vdb-entry)
www.osvdb.org/55734 (Patch, vdb-entry)
oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11857 (signature, vdb-entry)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-2446?: CVE-2009-2446 is a vulnerability in MySQL, classified under Use of Externally-Controlled Format String. Published 2009-07-13.
Is CVE-2009-2446 known to be exploited?: 14 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.