CVE-2002-2197 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in Sun Solaris 8.0 allows local users to cause a denial of service (kernel panic) via a program that uses /dev/poll, triggering a NULL pointer dereference.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-2197 represents a critical kernel-level flaw within Sun Solaris 8.0 operating systems that exposes systems to potential denial of service attacks through malicious manipulation of the /dev/poll device interface. This vulnerability specifically targets the kernel's handling of poll operations and demonstrates how improper input validation can lead to system instability. The issue manifests when local users execute programs that interact with the /dev/poll device, which serves as a high-performance interface for monitoring file descriptors and I/O events in the Solaris environment. The root cause lies in the kernel's failure to properly validate pointers during the processing of poll requests, creating a condition where a NULL pointer dereference can occur when the system attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly initialized or allocated.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the deliberate construction of malformed poll requests that cause the kernel to attempt to dereference a NULL pointer within the /dev/poll subsystem. This specific flaw falls under the CWE-476 category of NULL Pointer Dereference, which is a well-documented weakness in software systems where applications fail to check for null values before attempting to access memory locations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the kernel level, meaning that successful exploitation can result in complete system crashes or kernel panics that require manual intervention to recover from. When the kernel encounters the malformed poll request, it follows a code path that leads to accessing memory through a NULL pointer reference, causing the operating system to terminate abruptly and potentially leaving the system in an unstable state.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to Solaris 8.0 systems deployed in production environments where stability and uptime are critical requirements. The local nature of the attack means that an attacker must already have access to the system to exploit this vulnerability, but this access could be gained through various attack vectors such as compromised user accounts, privilege escalation, or social engineering tactics. The impact extends beyond simple system unavailability as kernel panics can result in data loss, corrupted filesystems, and extended downtime that can affect business operations. The vulnerability's classification aligns with the ATT&CK framework's T1499.004 technique for Network Denial of Service, though in this case the attack operates at the kernel level rather than network infrastructure. Systems running Solaris 8.0 that utilize /dev/poll functionality for monitoring applications or services are particularly at risk, as any program that interacts with this device interface can potentially trigger the vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-2197 must address both immediate system protection and long-term security posture enhancement. The primary recommended solution involves applying the official Sun Microsystems security patches that correct the NULL pointer dereference in the kernel's /dev/poll handling code. Organizations should also implement strict access controls and monitoring of /dev/poll usage to detect potential exploitation attempts. System administrators should consider disabling /dev/poll functionality if it is not essential for critical applications, as this reduces the attack surface. Additionally, implementing comprehensive system monitoring solutions that can detect kernel panic events and automatic restart procedures can help minimize downtime. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and the need for thorough testing of patches in production environments before deployment. Organizations should also consider upgrading to newer versions of Solaris that have addressed this vulnerability and other related kernel-level issues, as Solaris 8.0 reached end-of-life status and no longer receives security updates from Sun Microsystems. Proper incident response procedures should be established to handle potential kernel panics, including automated system recovery mechanisms and regular backup verification to ensure data integrity can be maintained during and after exploitation attempts.