CVE-2006-7028 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Single CPU Sun systems running Solaris 7, 8, or 9, such as Netra, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (console hang) via a flood of small TCP/IP packets. NOTE: this issue has not been replicated by third parties. In addition, the cause is unknown, although it might be related to "jabber" and generation of a large amount of interrupts within the console, or a hardware error.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-7028 represents a significant denial of service weakness affecting single CPU Sun systems running Solaris 7, 8, or 9 operating systems including Netra series hardware platforms. This issue manifests as a remote attack vector that can compromise system availability through the deliberate flooding of small TCP/IP packets targeting the console interface. The vulnerability's classification as a remote denial of service indicates that attackers can exploit this weakness from external network positions without requiring physical access or local system credentials, making it particularly concerning for networked environments where such systems might be exposed to untrusted network traffic.
The technical nature of this vulnerability appears to stem from the system's handling of network packet processing within the console subsystem, where an excessive volume of small TCP/IP packets can overwhelm the system's interrupt handling mechanisms. According to the description, the root cause remains unclear but may be related to what is commonly termed "jabber" conditions in networking where devices continuously transmit small packets in rapid succession. This behavior can lead to the generation of an excessive number of interrupts within the console processing pathways, potentially causing the system console to hang or become unresponsive. The interrupt flooding aspect of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-124, which addresses the weakness of insufficient interrupt handling, and represents a classic example of resource exhaustion attacks that can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as console access represents a critical administrative pathway for system management and troubleshooting. When the console hangs due to this attack, system administrators lose the ability to perform essential maintenance tasks, monitor system health, or respond to other security incidents. This situation creates a cascading effect where the denial of service can prevent legitimate users from accessing the system through console interfaces, potentially forcing administrators to resort to physical intervention or power cycling to restore service. The vulnerability's potential relationship to hardware errors further complicates mitigation efforts, as it may indicate underlying hardware susceptibility rather than purely software-based weaknesses. The fact that this issue has not been replicated by third parties suggests either that the conditions required for exploitation are highly specific or that the vulnerability may be intermittent in nature, making it challenging to develop comprehensive testing procedures or reliable detection mechanisms.
The security implications of CVE-2006-7028 extend to organizations maintaining legacy Sun systems running older Solaris versions, particularly those in environments where network exposure cannot be fully controlled or segmented. Such systems may be subject to various network-based attacks that could exploit this vulnerability, potentially leading to extended downtime and service disruption. While the exact mechanism remains undetermined, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date system patches and monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation strategies to limit exposure to untrusted networks, deploying intrusion detection systems capable of identifying packet flooding patterns, and maintaining robust backup and recovery procedures to minimize the impact of potential exploitation. The vulnerability also highlights the need for comprehensive testing of legacy systems in controlled environments to identify similar weaknesses that might not be immediately apparent in production deployments.