Control: 6.1.2 Ensure 'skip_show_database' database flag for Cloud SQL Mysql instance is set to 'on'

Description

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

This recommendation is applicable to MySQL database instances. 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.

Remediation

From Console:

1. Login to GCP console and navigate to Cloud 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 FLAG , choose the flag skip_show_database from the drop-down menu, and set its value to on.
6. Click DONE.
7. Click SAVE to save your changes. It may ask to confirm again as restart is required for this change.
8. Confirm your changes under Flags on the Overview page after restart.

From Command Line:

1. List all Cloud SQL database Instances

gcloud sql instances list

2. 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 ("=").