CVE-2005-3250 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in Solaris 10 allows local users to cause a denial of service (panic) via unknown vectors related to the "/proc" filesystem, which trigger a null dereference.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3250 represents a critical flaw in the Solaris 10 operating system that manifests through the /proc filesystem interface. This issue stems from a null pointer dereference condition that occurs when local users interact with specific components of the proc filesystem, ultimately leading to system panic and complete denial of service. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level and can be exploited by any local user with access to the system, making it a significant threat to system stability and availability.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies within the kernel's handling of certain proc filesystem entries that trigger a null pointer dereference during processing. When malicious or malformed input is provided to specific /proc filesystem interfaces, the kernel code fails to properly validate pointer references before dereferencing them, resulting in a system crash. This behavior aligns with CWE-476 which describes null pointer dereference vulnerabilities, and represents a classic example of insufficient input validation at kernel level interfaces. The vulnerability operates through the Solaris kernel's process management subsystem where /proc filesystem entries are used to expose kernel data structures and process information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability as it provides local attackers with a reliable method to disrupt system operations and potentially cause service interruptions. Since the vulnerability is accessible to any local user, it can be exploited by malicious insiders or compromised accounts to systematically disable system services, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments. The resulting system panic can cause complete system shutdown or reboot, potentially leading to data loss or service disruption that may affect critical business operations. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1499.1 which involves network denial of service attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3250 should focus on both immediate system hardening and long-term security improvements. System administrators should apply the appropriate security patches released by Oracle to address the kernel-level null pointer dereference issue. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and monitoring for unusual /proc filesystem activity can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of kernel security reviews and input validation practices, particularly for interfaces that expose kernel data structures. Organizations should also consider implementing privilege separation techniques and limiting local user access to critical system interfaces where possible. Regular security assessments of kernel interfaces and process management subsystems should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other system components.