MySQL database is one of the most popular database management systems in the world. MySQL databases are used by many web applications, including WordPress, Facebook, Twitter, and others. MySQL databases store important data that must be protected from cyber threats, such as SQL injection attacks, data theft, hacking, and more.
MySQL database security is an important aspect of cybersecurity, as MySQL databases can be a prime target for hackers looking to steal confidential information, corrupt data, or disrupt business operations. Therefore, you need to follow best practices to secure your MySQL database from cyber threats.
In this article, I will describe 8 easy steps you can take to improve the security of your MySQL database. These steps are based on the sources you provide, namely:
- Boosting Cybersecurity: Mastering MySQL Database Protection in Today’s Digital Landscape
- MySQL Security: Common Threats and 8 Best Practices
- MySQL Database Security
- Best practices for securing MySQL databases
Step 1: Use a Strong and Secure Password
Passwords are one of the first defense mechanisms you have to protect your MySQL database from unauthorized access. You should use strong and secure passwords for root accounts and all user accounts that can access your MySQL database.
A strong and secure password is one that:
- Be at least 8 characters long
- Contains a combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols
- Does not contain personal information, such as name, date of birth, or email address
- Not easy to guess or use common words, such as password, 123456, or qwerty
- Different for each account and database
- Replaced periodically, at least every 90 days
You can use an online password generator to create strong and secure passwords, such as Password Generator.
Other Interesting Articles
Step 2: Restrict User Access Rights and Privileges
In addition to using strong and secure passwords, you should also restrict the permissions and privileges of users who can access your MySQL database. You should grant access rights and privileges appropriate to the needs and roles of each user, and avoid granting excessive or unnecessary access rights and privileges.
User access rights and privileges are the rights and abilities that users have to perform certain operations on a MySQL database, such as creating, reading, modifying, or deleting data. User permissions and privileges can be granted or revoked using GRANT or REVOKE commands, such as the following example:
-- Grant SELECT, INSERT, and UPDATE permissions and privileges in the customer's table to user user1 GRANT SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE ON database_name.customers TO 'user1''localhost'; -- Revoke DELETE permissions and privileges on the customer's table from user user1 REVOKE DELETE ON database_name.customers FROM 'user1''localhost';
Step 3: Use a Secure and Encrypted Connection
A secure and encrypted connection is a connection that uses protocols or certificates that can protect data transmitted between the client and the server from eavesdropping, modification, or theft by third parties. You must use a secure and encrypted connection to access your MySQL database, either through a web application, database management tool, or shell command.
One way to use a secure and encrypted connection is to use SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security), which is a standard protocol for securing communications on the internet. SSL or TLS can encrypt data transmitted between the client and the server so that only authorized parties can read it.
To use SSL or TLS, you need to have an SSL certificate or TLS certificate, which is a digital file containing identity information and public keys from a client or server. You can purchase an SSL or TLS certificate from a trusted service provider, or create your own SSL or TLS certificate using a tool like OpenSSL.
To enable SSL or TLS on your MySQL database, you need to change some configuration parameters on my.cnf or my.ini files, which are files that store MySQL database settings. You need to add or modify the following parameters in the [mysqld] section:
Enable SSL or TLS
ssl=ON
Determine the location of the server’s SSL or TLS certificate file
ssl-ca=/path/to/ca-cert.pem ssl-cert=/path/to/server-cert.pem ssl-key=/path/to/server-key.pem
You also need to add or change the following parameters in the [client] section:You also need to add or change the following parameters in the [client] section:
Enable SSL or TLS
ssl=ON
Specify the location of the client’s SSL or TLS certificate file
ssl-ca=/path/to/ca-cert.pem ssl-cert=/path/to/server-cert.pem ssl-key=/path/to/server-key.pem
After changing the configuration file, you need to restart your MySQL database service for the changes to take effect.
To test whether your connection is already using SSL or TLS, you can use the STATUS or \s command on the MySQL client, such as the following example:
-- Display connection status
mysql> STATUS;
---------
mysql Ver 14.14 Distrib 5.7.34, for Linux (x86_64) using EditLine wrapper
Connection id: 2
Current database:
Current user: rootlocalhost
SSL: Cipher in use is DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA
Current pager: stdout
Using outfile: ''
Using delimiter: ;
Server version: 5.7.34 MySQL Community Server (GPL)
Protocol version: 10
Connection: localhost via TCP/IP
Server characterset: latin1
Db characterset: latin1
Client characterset: utf8
Conn. characterset: utf8
TCP port: 3306
Uptime: 1 min 2 sec
Threads: 1 Questions: 4 Slow queries: 0 Opens: 105 Flush tables: 1 Open tables: 98 Queries per second avg: 0.064
---------
-- Display connection status (briefly)
mysql> \s
---------
mysqlWell, I’ll continue writing the truncated article. Here is the next section:
Step 4: Use a Reliable Firewall and Antivirus
Firewalls and antiviruses are software or hardware that can protect your computer or network from cyberattacks, such as viruses, malware, ransomware, or denial of service. Firewalls and antiviruses can block or remove suspicious or malicious programs or packages that try to enter or exit your computer or network.
You should use a reliable firewall and antivirus to protect your MySQL database from cyberattacks. You should choose a firewall and antivirus that suits your operating system and architecture, and ensure that your firewall and antivirus are always updated with the latest versions and the latest threat definitions.
One way to use a reliable firewall and antivirus is to use AppArmor or SELinux, which is security software that can restrict access and activity from certain applications or processes, including MySQL databases. AppArmor or SELinux can prevent your MySQL database from performing unauthorized or risky operations, such as reading or writing unrelated files, running shell commands, or accessing unsecured networks.
To use AppArmor or SELinux, you need to install and activate the software on your operating system and configure rules or policies to suit your needs and environment.
Step 5: Use Audit Logs and Monitoring
Log auditing and monitoring is a process or tool that can record or display the activity or performance of your MySQL database. Audit logs and monitoring can help you detect or prevent cyber threats, such as unauthorized access attempts, suspicious activity, or performance issues.
You should use audit logs and monitoring to secure your MySQL database from cyberattacks. You should choose audit logs and monitoring that fit the scale and complexity of your MySQL database, and ensure that your audit logs and monitoring are always up and easily accessible.
One way to use audit logs and monitoring is to use MySQL Enterprise Audit or MySQL Enterprise Monitor, which are features or products provided by MySQL Enterprise Edition, which is a paid version of a MySQL database. MySQL Enterprise Audit or MySQL Enterprise Monitor can provide comprehensive, flexible, and easy-to-use log auditing or monitoring for your MySQL database.
To use MySQL Enterprise Audit or MySQL Enterprise Monitor, you need to purchase and install MySQL Enterprise Edition on your server, and activate or configure those features or products according to the documentation provided by MySQL, such as the following examples:
-- Enable MySQL Enterprise Audit INSTALL PLUGIN audit_log SONAME 'audit_log.so'; SET GLOBAL audit_log_policy = ALL; -- Enable MySQL Enterprise Monitor INSTALL PLUGIN agent SONAME 'agent.so'; SET GLOBAL agent_address = 'https://monitor.example.com:18443';
Step 6: Use Regular Backup and Recovery
Backup and recovery is a process or tool that can store or restore data from your MySQL database. Backup and recovery can help you overcome or prevent data loss, such as data loss due to human error, hardware failure, natural disasters, or cyberattacks.
You should use regular backups and recovery to secure your MySQL database from data loss. You should choose backups and recoveries that fit the size and type of your data, and ensure that your backups and recoveries are always done periodically and stored in a secure location.
One way to use regular backup and recovery is to use mysqldump or mysqlbackup, which are tools provided by MySQL databases. mysqldump or mysqlbackup can create or restore backups of your MySQL database in the form of text or binary files.
To use mysqldump or mysqlbackup, you need to run the tool on a MySQL client or server, and provide parameters that suit your needs and preferences, such as the following example:
Create a backup with mysqldump
mysqldump --user=root --password=root --all-databases --single-transaction --routines --triggers --events > backup.sql
Restore backups with mysqldump
mysql --user=root --password=root < backup.sql
Create a backup with mysqlbackup
mysqlbackup --user=root --password=root --backup-dir=/backup --with-timestamp backup-and-apply-log
Restore backups with mysqlbackup
mysqlbackup --user=root --password=root --backup-dir=/backup/2024-01-25_10-08-46 copy-back-and-apply-log
Step 7: Use the Latest Version and Patch of the MySQL Database
The latest versions and patches of a MySQL database are versions and patches that have been updated with the latest features, fixes, or improvements of the MySQL database. The latest versions and patches of your MySQL database can help you improve or improve the security, performance, stability, or compatibility of your MySQL database.
You should use the latest version and patch of the MySQL database to secure your MySQL database from vulnerabilities or issues that may exist in previous versions or patches. You should choose the latest version and patches of your MySQL database that match your operating system and architecture, and ensure that the latest version and patches of your MySQL database are always installed and applied correctly.
One way to use the latest versions and patches of MySQL databases is to use MySQL Installer or MySQL Yum Repository, which are tools or repositories provided by MySQL. MySQL Installer or MySQL Yum Repository can install or update the latest version or patch of a MySQL database automatically or manually.
Step 8: Use Good Development and Testing Practices
Good development and testing practices are practices that can help you create or test applications or code that interact with your MySQL database. Good development and testing practices can help you avoid or mitigate errors, bugs, or vulnerabilities that may affect the security, performance, or functionality of your MySQL database.
You should use good development and testing practices to secure your MySQL database from the negative impact of bad applications or code. You should choose good development and testing practices that match the methodology, tools, or standards you use, and ensure that your good development and testing practices are always followed and applied consistently.
One good development and testing practice is to use prepared statements or parameterized queries, which are techniques that can prevent or reduce the risk of SQL injection attacks, which are one of the most common and malicious cyberattacks against MySQL databases. SQL injection attacks are attacks that exploit weaknesses in applications or code that do not validate or filter user input properly, thereby allowing users to insert or execute unwanted SQL commands on MySQL databases.
Prepared statements or parameterized queries are techniques that can separate user input from actual SQL commands, thus avoiding incorrect interpretation or unauthorized execution of user input as part of SQL commands. Prepared statements or parameterized queries can use a placeholder or parameter to mark the place where user input will be entered, and then bind or replace those placeholders or parameters with appropriate values after validating or filtering user input.