Why Does Granting Privileges Fail with 'Access Denied' Even as the Root User in MySQL?

Access Denied for User 'root' While Granting Privileges Explained

In MySQL, while attempting to grant privileges to another user with the 'GRANT' command, you may encounter a perplexing "Access denied" error, despite being logged in as a privileged 'root' user with the correct password. This oddity stems from an attempt to delegate privileges to the mysql.users table, a sensitive aspect of MySQL's user management.

Cause of the Error

The mysql.users table contains sensitive information about MySQL users, including hashed passwords, permissions, and settings. To ensure the integrity and security of the database, only 'root' users are granted access to grant privileges on this table. This is enforced as a safety measure to prevent unauthorized modifications to user accounts and database permissions.

Proper Granting Method

To grant privileges effectively, avoid using . or similar syntax that can potentially include the mysql.users table. Instead, use the following syntax to grant privileges on specific tables, databases, or global objects:

GRANT [privileges] ON [database].[table] TO '[user]'@'[hostname]' IDENTIFIED BY '[password]';

This approach limits the delegation of privileges to specific objects, excluding the mysql.users table.

Additional Notes

While using 'root' users with all privileges is discouraged for security reasons, it can be necessary in certain situations. If you choose to use a 'root' user, ensure that strong security measures are in place, such as strong passwords, network encryption, and regular database audits.

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