Information
On Linux/UNIX, the MySQL client logs statements executed interactively to a history file. The default MySQL Client file is named .mysql_history in the user's home directory. The files are split by language and named history.sql, history.js and history.py. Most interactive commands run in the MySQL client application are saved to a history file. The MySQL command history should be disabled.
Rationale:
Disabling the MySQL command history reduces the probability of exposing sensitive information, such as password, encryption keys, or other sensitive data or information.
NOTE: Nessus has not performed this check. Please review the benchmark to ensure target compliance.
Solution
Perform the following steps to remediate this setting:
Remove .mysql_history if it exists.
Use either of the techniques below to prevent it from being created again:
Set the MYSQL_HISTFILE environment variable to /dev/null. This will need to be placed in the shell's startup script.
Create $HOME/.mysql_history as a symbolic to /dev/null.
> ln -s /dev/null $HOME/.mysql_history
Default Value:
By default, the MySQL command history file is located in $HOME/.mysql_history.