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6.1.2 Ensure ‘Skip_show_database’ Database Flag for Cloud SQL MySQL Instance Is Set to ‘On’ (Automated)​

Profile Applicability​

• Level 1

Description​

It is recommended to set skip_show_database database flag for Cloud SQL Mysql instance to on

Rationale​

'skip_show_database' database flag prevents people from using the SHOW DATABASES statement if they do not have the SHOW DATABASES privilege. This can improve security if you have concerns about users being able to see databases belonging to other users. Its effect depends on the SHOW DATABASES privilege: If the variable value is ON, the SHOW DATABASES statement is permitted only to users who have the SHOW DATABASES privilege, and the statement displays all database names. If the value is OFF, SHOW DATABASES is permitted to all users, but displays the names of only those databases for which the user has the SHOW DATABASES or other privilege. This recommendation is applicable to Mysql database instances.

Audit​

Using Console:

  1. Go to the Cloud SQL Instances page in the Google Cloud Console by visiting https://console.cloud.google.com/sql/instances.
  2. Select the instance to open its Instance Overview page
  3. Ensure the database flag skip_show_database that has been set is listed under the Database flags section.

Using Command Line:

  1. List all Cloud SQL database Instances
gcloud sql instances list
  1. Ensure the below command returns on for every Cloud SQL Mysql database instance
gcloud sql instances describe INSTANCE_NAME --format=json | jq '.settings.databaseFlags[] | select(.name=="skip_show_database")|.value'

Remediation​

Using Console:

  1. Go to the Cloud SQL Instances page in the Google Cloud Console by visiting https://console.cloud.google.com/sql/instances.
  2. Select the Mysql instance for which you want to enable to database flag.
  3. Click Edit.
  4. Scroll down to the Flags section.
  5. To set a flag that has not been set on the instance before, click Add item, choose the flag skip_show_database from the drop-down menu, and set its value to on.
  6. Click Save to save your changes.
  7. Confirm your changes under Flags on the Overview page.

Using Command Line:

  1. List all Cloud SQL database Instances
gcloud sql instances list
  1. Configure the skip_show_database database flag for every Cloud SQL Mysql database instance using the below command.
gcloud sql instances patch INSTANCE_NAME --database-flags skip_show_database=on
note

This command will overwrite all database flags previously set. To keep those and add new ones, include the values for all flags you want set on the instance; any flag not specifically included is set to its default value. For flags that do not take a value, specify the flag name followed by an equals sign ("=").

References​

https://cloud.google.com/sql/docs/mysql/flags
https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/server-system-variables.html#sysvar_skip_show_database

Additional Information​

warning

This patch modifies database flag values, which may require your instance to be restarted. Check the list of supported flags - https://cloud.google.com/sql/docs/mysql/flags - to see if your instance will be restarted when this patch is submitted.

note

Some database flag settings can affect instance availability or stability, and remove the instance from the Cloud SQL SLA. For information about these flags, see Operational Guidelines.

note

Configuring the above flag restarts the Cloud SQL instance.