CVE-1999-1402 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
The access permissions for a UNIX domain socket are ignored in Solaris 2.x and SunOS 4.x, and other BSD-based operating systems before 4.4, which could allow local users to connect to the socket and possibly disrupt or control the operations of the program using that socket.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-1999-1402 represents a critical security flaw in Unix-based operating systems that fundamentally undermines the principle of least privilege and access control mechanisms. This issue affects Solaris 2.x and SunOS 4.x systems along with BSD-based operating systems prior to version 4.4, where the kernel fails to properly enforce access permissions associated with UNIX domain sockets. The flaw exists at the kernel level where socket access control lists are either not implemented or not properly enforced, creating a dangerous situation where unauthorized local users can bypass intended security controls.
UNIX domain sockets serve as a communication mechanism between processes on the same machine, typically using file system paths as endpoints. These sockets should respect the standard file permission model where only authorized users with appropriate read/write permissions can connect to or bind to specific socket endpoints. However, in affected systems, the kernel implementation does not properly validate access permissions when establishing connections to these sockets, allowing any local user to connect regardless of the socket's intended access controls. This represents a direct violation of the security principle that access controls should be enforced at the kernel level.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to potentially enabling privilege escalation and service disruption. Local attackers can exploit this flaw to connect to privileged services that are intended to be accessible only by specific users or processes, potentially allowing them to intercept communications, inject malicious data, or even take control of the service. The vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where different services need to communicate securely with restricted access. From an attack perspective, this represents a low-effort, high-impact vector that aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's concept of privilege escalation through kernel vulnerabilities, specifically targeting the 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' tactic.
The technical nature of this flaw falls under CWE-284, which describes improper access control or inadequate access control mechanisms in software. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of inadequate kernel-level security enforcement where the system fails to properly implement the security model that should govern inter-process communication. This issue also relates to CWE-732, which covers inadequate protection of system resources, as the socket permissions are completely ignored. The lack of proper access control enforcement creates a fundamental security weakness that affects the entire system's integrity and confidentiality. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability represents a foundational flaw in the operating system's security architecture, requiring either kernel-level patches or complete system upgrades to resolve.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates and patches from the vendor, as the flaw exists at the operating system kernel level and cannot be addressed through application-level security measures. Organizations should implement comprehensive system hardening practices including proper socket permission management, regular security audits, and monitoring for unauthorized socket access attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date systems and demonstrates why regular security assessments are crucial for identifying such fundamental flaws. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and process isolation can help limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities, though they cannot fully compensate for the underlying kernel-level security issue. The incident underscores the critical nature of kernel security and the necessity of robust access control mechanisms in all system components.