Privilege to set default database in MySQL

Question

It turns out that a user cannot set default database if it does not have global (mysql.user) or any database-level permissions (mysql.db):

MariaDB [(none)]> use mysql;
ERROR 1044 (42000): Access denied for user 'XXX'@'%' to database 'mysql'

However, using default database could be convenient, e. i. there is a lot old scripts relying on that.

The only workaround I've found so far, is to grant SHOW VIEW on the database: I do not want to grant even read-only access for all tables.

What do I miss? I don't know any SQL syntax that allows insert 'N' in all relevant columns in mysql.db, and don't want to do it with raw SQL (INSERT ...).

Answer 1

Well, thanks Rick James, it is a bit more complicated. The problem is with MariaDB.

Update: https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-9614