GHSA-3f6p-5ww8-9rcr — MySQL2: Auth Plugin Downgrade to mysql_clear_password Leaks Plaintext Credentials

Affected: npm: mysql2

## Summary

A rogue MySQL server (or MITM) can force mysql2 to send credentials in **plaintext** by requesting an auth switch to `mysql_clear_password`. The driver complies without verifying that TLS is active.

## Details

`mysql_clear_password` is registered as a default standard plugin in `lib/commands/auth_switch.js` (line 21). When a server sends an AuthSwitchRequest (0xFE) requesting `mysql_clear_password`, the driver executes it without checking for TLS. The plugin (`lib/auth_plugins/mysql_clear_password.js`) returns `Buffer.from(password + '\0')`.

Note: `caching_sha2_password` plugin DOES check for SSL before sending cleartext (line 77). But `mysql_clear_password` has no such guard.

## Attack Scenario

1. Attacker operates rogue MySQL server or performs MITM 2. Server advertises `caching_sha2_password` in handshake 3. Client sends hashed auth response 4. Server replies with AuthSwitchRequest to `mysql_clear_password` 5. Client sends password in plaintext 6. Attacker captures plaintext password

## PoC

Rogue MySQL server (Node.js, ~80 lines) that captures plaintext passwords from mysql2 clients. Tested against mysql2 3.20.0. Full PoC available on request.

## Suggested Fix

Remove `mysql_clear_password` from `standardAuthPlugins`, or add a guard requiring TLS/unix socket before allowing cleartext auth.

## Impact

- mysql2: 9M weekly downloads - Any application connecting without TLS is vulnerable to credential theft - Cloud environments with untrusted network path…

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GHSA-3f6p-5ww8-9rcr — MySQL2: Auth Plugin Downgrade to mysql_clear_password Leaks Plaintext Credentials