CVE-2004-1357 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
The Secure Shell (SSH) Daemon (SSHD) in Sun Solaris 9 does not properly log IP addresses when SSHD is configured with the ListenAddress as 0.0.0.0, which makes it easier for remote attackers to hide the source of their activities.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1357 represents a significant logging deficiency in the Secure Shell daemon implementation within Sun Solaris 9 operating systems. This flaw specifically manifests when the SSHD service is configured to listen on all available network interfaces using the ListenAddress directive set to 0.0.0.0. The fundamental issue lies in the daemon's inability to accurately record the originating IP addresses of incoming SSH connections, creating a critical gap in security monitoring and incident response capabilities. This misconfiguration effectively undermines the integrity of audit trails that security administrators rely upon to track and investigate potential malicious activities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from how the SSH daemon processes and logs connection information when operating in a multi-interface listening mode. When ListenAddress is configured to 0.0.0.0, the daemon should theoretically capture and log the actual source IP addresses of connecting clients, but due to implementation flaws, it fails to properly extract and record this critical information. This logging failure creates a scenario where malicious actors can obscure their true network origins, making it significantly more difficult for security operations teams to trace attack vectors or establish proper attribution. The vulnerability directly impacts the principle of non-repudiation and audit integrity that are fundamental to secure system administration.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates substantial risks for organizations running Sun Solaris 9 systems with SSH access. Attackers can exploit this weakness to conduct reconnaissance, establish persistent access, or launch coordinated attacks while maintaining anonymity in system logs. The inability to accurately track source IP addresses compromises network defense mechanisms, as intrusion detection systems and security information event management platforms rely on complete and accurate logging data for threat detection and analysis. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where strict compliance with security auditing requirements is mandated, as the incomplete logging data would likely result in audit failures and regulatory non-compliance issues.
The impact of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-778 (Insufficient Logging) and represents a specific implementation weakness in the SSH daemon's logging subsystem. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in their threat modeling activities and recognize its potential for enabling advanced persistent threats or coordinated attack campaigns. The flaw creates opportunities for attackers to conduct long-term surveillance or establish covert access channels without detection, as their activities would appear to originate from generic network addresses rather than specific client locations. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including proper SSH daemon configuration, enhanced monitoring of SSH access patterns, and regular security audits to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining updated security configurations and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation details can have significant security implications in network services.