CVE-2004-1353 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in LDAP on Sun Solaris 8 and 9, when using Role Based Access Control (RBAC), allows local users to execute certain commands with additional privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1353 represents a significant security flaw within the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol implementation on Sun Solaris 8 and 9 operating systems. This issue specifically manifests when Role Based Access Control mechanisms are active, creating a privilege escalation vector that could be exploited by local attackers. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of privilege contexts within the LDAP service, allowing malicious users to elevate their privileges beyond normal operational boundaries.
This technical flaw operates through a privilege separation mechanism failure within the Solaris RBAC framework. When LDAP services are configured with RBAC enabled, the system fails to properly validate or enforce privilege boundaries during certain command execution sequences. The vulnerability essentially allows local users to bypass normal access controls and execute specific administrative commands with elevated privileges, potentially gaining access to sensitive system resources or performing unauthorized operations. The flaw is particularly concerning because it leverages the existing LDAP infrastructure rather than requiring external network access or additional attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it could enable attackers to compromise entire system security postures. Local users who can exploit this vulnerability may gain access to system administration functions, potentially allowing them to modify critical system files, manipulate user accounts, or disable security mechanisms. The attack surface is particularly wide given that LDAP services are commonly deployed in enterprise environments where RBAC is implemented for access control management. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the RBAC model, creating a backdoor that could be exploited to gain persistent access to the system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1353 should focus on immediate patch application from Sun Microsystems, which would address the underlying privilege validation flaw in the LDAP service implementation. System administrators should also consider disabling unnecessary LDAP services and implementing additional monitoring for suspicious privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and could be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1068, involving privilege escalation through local exploitation. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security audits to identify all systems running affected Solaris versions and ensure proper RBAC configurations are implemented alongside the necessary patches to prevent exploitation.