CVE-2001-0269 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
pam_ldap authentication module in Solaris 8 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication via a NULL password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-0269 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within the pam_ldap module of Solaris 8 operating systems. This issue affects the Pluggable Authentication Modules framework which is responsible for managing authentication processes in Unix-like systems. The flaw specifically resides in how the pam_ldap module handles authentication requests when a NULL password is presented, creating an unintended pathway for unauthorized access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation within the LDAP authentication module. When a user attempts to authenticate using the pam_ldap module with a NULL password value, the system fails to properly reject this invalid credential combination. This occurs because the module does not adequately verify the password parameter before proceeding with the LDAP bind operation, allowing the authentication process to complete successfully even when no valid password has been provided. The flaw essentially creates a backdoor where any user can bypass authentication by simply providing a NULL password value, making the entire authentication mechanism ineffective.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to system security and data integrity. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to systems that rely on LDAP authentication through the pam_ldap module. The impact extends beyond individual system compromise as it potentially allows attackers to escalate privileges and move laterally within network environments. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the fundamental security model of authentication systems. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no local access or specialized knowledge beyond basic network connectivity, making it accessible to a wide range of threat actors.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, specifically focusing on authentication bypass through weak credential validation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this flaw maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and initial access through authentication bypass methods. Organizations utilizing Solaris 8 with pam_ldap configurations face significant exposure to this vulnerability, particularly in environments where LDAP is used for centralized authentication management. The lack of proper input validation in the authentication module creates a persistent security gap that can be exploited repeatedly without detection.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of the affected Solaris 8 systems through official Oracle security updates. Organizations must also implement network segmentation to limit access to systems using pam_ldap authentication and consider disabling the module entirely if it is not essential for operations. Additional protective measures include implementing strong monitoring for unusual authentication patterns and configuring proper access controls to limit who can perform LDAP bind operations. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of all authentication modules and verify that proper credential validation mechanisms are in place across all system components to prevent similar vulnerabilities from existing in other authentication pathways.