# MySQL arbitrary read file by client

Actually, when you try to **load data local into a table** the **content of a file** the MySQL or MariaDB server asks the **client to read it** and send the content. **Then, if you can tamper a mysql client to connect to your own MySQL server, you can read arbitrary files.**\
Please notice that this is the behaviour using:

```bash
load data local infile "/etc/passwd" into table test FIELDS TERMINATED BY '\n';
```

(Notice the "local" word)\
Because without the "local" you can get:

```bash
mysql> load data infile "/etc/passwd" into table test FIELDS TERMINATED BY '\n';

ERROR 1290 (HY000): The MySQL server is running with the --secure-file-priv option so it cannot execute this statement
```

**Initial PoC:** [**https://github.com/allyshka/Rogue-MySql-Server**](https://github.com/allyshka/Rogue-MySql-Server)\
**In this paper you can see a complete description of the attack and even how to extend it to RCE:** [**https://paper.seebug.org/1113/**](https://paper.seebug.org/1113/)\
**Here you can find an overview of the attack:** [**http://russiansecurity.expert/2016/04/20/mysql-connect-file-read/**](http://russiansecurity.expert/2016/04/20/mysql-connect-file-read/)
