init_file
WARNING
Rule IDs: mi_013
Overview
- Purpose
- Documented in the MySQL 8.4 manual as a server system variable (scope: Global). Purpose and semantics are described at the linked manual page.
- Dynamic (MySQL 8.4 reference)
- MySQL 8.4 marks this variable as not dynamic (
Dynamic= No). It must be set inmy.cnfor on the command line; changing it requires a restart. - Default value
- Default depends on MySQL version, build, and platform — see the manual page for this variable.
- Version and product notes
- MariaDB and Percona Server may use different names, defaults, or dynamic behavior; verify their documentation.
- Documentation
- https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/8.4/en/server-system-variables.html#sysvar_init_file
- Other vendors
What is checked
Rules that reference this variable, with their severity and what each rule detects:
- WARNING
mi_013: Regularly audit the contents of init_file and ensure the file permissions on the OS are restricted to the mysql user.
Tuning guidance
- Recommended actions:
- Regularly audit the contents of init_file and ensure the file permissions on the OS are restricted to the mysql user.
- Trade-offs: Validate recommendations against monitoring, workload profiles, and vendor documentation before making changes.
Example
Configure in my.cnf (or equivalent) or server startup options, then restart.