[Blog](/blog) Show links Resources [Blog](/blog) [Breaches](/breaches) [eBooks, reports, & more](/resources) [Events](/events) [News](/news) [Attack Surface Management](/category/attack-surface-management) Show links Categories [Attack Surface Management](/category/attack-surface-management) [Company News](/category/company-news) [Compliance and Regulations](/category/compliance-and-regulations) [Cybersecurity](/category/cybersecurity) [Data Breaches](/category/data-breaches) [DevOps](/category/devops) [Human Cyber Risk](/category/human-cyber-risk) [Risks and Vulnerabilities](/category/risks-and-vulnerabilities) [Third-Party Risk Management](/category/third-party-risk-management) [Vendor Risk Management](/category/vendor-risk-management) [How to Improve MySQL Security: Top 11 Ways](/blog/top-11-ways-to-improve-mysql-security) Publish date November 19, 2024 {x} minute read # How to Improve MySQL Security: Top 11 Ways [Get a demo](/contact-sales) [Free trial](/demo) [Download the PDF guide](#) [Free trial](/demo) Written by [UpGuard Team](/team/upguard) UpGuard Team Reviewed by Table of contents Free resource ### [Download now](#) In the pantheon of open source heavyweights, few technologies are as ubiquitous as the MySQL RDBMS. Integral to popular software packages like WordPress and server stacks like LAMP, MySQL serves as the foundational data platform for a vast majority of websites and cloud services on the internet today. Unfortunately, its popularity translates to more commonly known [attack vectors](https://www.upguard.com/blog/attack-vector) and security [exploits](/blog/exploit) —the following are 11 ways to shore up MySQL security and protect your data more effectively. ## 11 Ways to Improve MySQL Security ### 1. Drop the Test Database The test database installed by the MySQL Server package as part of the mysql\_install\_db process can be fully accessed by all users by default, making it a common target for attackers. It should therefore be removed during post-installation hardening. ### 2. Remove All Anonymous Accounts MySQL by default creates several anonymous users that essentially serve no purpose after installation. These accounts should therefore be removed, as their presence on the system give attackers an entry point in the database. ### 3. Change Default Port Mappings MySQL by default runs on port 3306. This should be changed after installation to obfuscate what critical services are running on which ports, as attackers will initially attempt to exploit default values. ### 4. Alter Which Hosts Have Access to MySQL If set up as a standalone server, (i.e., if application and web servers query the database from another server) the MySQL instance should be configured to only allow access to permitted hosts. This can be accomplished by making the appropriate changes in the hosts.deny and hosts.allow files. ### 5. Do Not Run MySQL With Root Level Privileges MySQL should be run under a specific, newly-created user account with the necessary permissions to run the service, as opposed to directly as the root user. This adds some auditing and logging benefits while preventing attackers from gaining access by hijacking the root user account. ### 6. Remove and Disable the MySQL History File Like the Test database, the MySQL history file located at \~/.mysql\_history is created by default during installation. This file should be deleted, as it contains historical details regarding installation and configuration steps performed. This could potentially result in the inadvertent exposure of passwords for critical database users. Additionally, a soft link for ***.mysql\_history*** file to the ***null*** device should be created to stop logging to file. ### 7. Disable Remote Logins If the MySQL database is only used by local applications, remote access to the server should be disabled. This is done by opening up the ***/etc/my.cnf*** file and adding a skip-networking entry under the ***\[mysqld]*** section. Configuring MySQL to stop listening on all TCP/IP ports including 127.0.0.1 will effectively restrict database access to local, MySQL socket-based communications. ### 8. Limit or Disable SHOW DATABASES Again, stripping remote attackers of their information gathering capabilities is critical to a secure [security posture](/blog/security-posture). For this reason, the SHOW DATABASES command should be limited or removed entirely by adding skip-show-database to the \[mysqld] section of the MySQL configuration file at */etc/my.cnf*. ### 9. Disable the Use of LOAD DATA LOCAL INFILE Command The LOAD DATA LOCAL INFILE command allows users to read local files and even access other files on the operating system, which could be exploited by attackers using methods such as [SQL injection](https://www.upguard.com/blog/sql-injection). The command should therefore be disabled by inserting set-variable=local-infile=0 to the \[mysqld] section of *my.cnf*. ### 10. Obfuscate the Root Account Changing the mysql root user account to a hard-to-guess name adds another layer of security, as attackers must determine the new account name before attempting to [brute force](/blog/brute-force-attack) the password values. ### 11. Set the Proper File Permissions Make sure that my.cnf is only root writable. Also, be sure that the default location for data at /usr/local/mysql/data is properly secured with the appropriate permissions. These are just 11 out of a myriad of hardening tasks for a more secure MySQL deployment. Looking for a way to perform these checks and more automatically across your whole MySQL environment? ScriptRock can automatically monitor your infrastructure for deviations from policy, alerting you on an ongoing basis if any [vulnerabilities](https://www.upguard.com/blog/vulnerability) or security gaps are detected. Give it a test drive—it’s free for up to 10 nodes. ## Sources [https://vpsie.com/knowledge-base/securing-a-mysql-database-in-a-shared-hosting-environment/](https://web.archive.org/web/20210225220909/https://vpsie.com/knowledge-base/securing-mysql-database-shared-hosting-environment/) Free resource ### [Download now](#) ## Related posts Learn more about the latest issues in cybersecurity. Attack Surface Management #### [Find Out if You're Exposed on the Dark Web](/blog/find-out-if-youre-exposed-on-the-dark-web) Answer 5 quick questions to predict what a dark web scan will find about your company. Then run the free scan to see your real exposure. [](/team/lance-turner) [Lance Turner](#) October 14, 2026 Data Breaches #### [Your First Dark Web Scan Report, Explained](/blog/your-first-dark-web-scan-report-explained) You scanned your domain. What do the results mean? 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