MySQL 9.4.0 Released: New Features and Security Improvements in the Innovation Branch

In late July 2025, Oracle announced the release of MySQL 9.4.0, the latest version in the Innovation branch. This update brings new features and enhancements for developers and database administrators. MySQL Community Server 9.4.0 is now available for Linux, FreeBSD, macOS, and Windows.

Oracle introduced a new release model for MySQL in 2023, splitting it into two tracks:

• Innovation for rapid feature development with updates every three months
• LTS (Long-Term Support) for environments needing stability and consistent behavior
• The upcoming MySQL 9.5 will become the next LTS version this fall, followed by MySQL 10.0, an Innovation branch.

What’s New in MySQL 9.4.0

A notable update is the extended support for JavaScript stored procedures. The BIT data type is now supported. Smaller values convert to JavaScript's Number, while larger ones use BigInt.

The command-line tool mysql adds a new --commands option. This allows users to enable local commands such as clear, edit, source, and many others. These are disabled by default for security reasons.

Security and Firewall Updates

Oracle fixed 30 security vulnerabilities in this release. One flaw could be exploited remotely if query access is granted. Four serious issues scored a severity level of 6.5 and involved the DML layer and the optimizer.

A new MySQL Enterprise Firewall component replaces the older firewall plugin. While offering similar functionality, it drops user profile support in favor of group profiles. This component is exclusive to the Enterprise Edition, and the legacy plugin is now deprecated.

This release shows Oracle’s focus on innovation while preparing a stable base for future LTS deployments.