CVE-2007-3248 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Sun Solaris 10 before 20070614, when IPv6 interfaces are present but not configured for IPsec, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (system crash) via certain network traffic.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3248 represents a critical flaw in the Sun Solaris 10 operating system that specifically manifests when IPv6 interfaces are present but not configured for IPsec security protocols. This issue emerged in the context of network protocol handling within the Solaris kernel, where the system fails to properly validate incoming network packets when IPv6 interfaces exist without proper IPsec configuration. The vulnerability operates at the network stack level, exploiting a weakness in how the system processes certain types of IPv6 traffic that would normally be handled safely. The flaw exists in the kernel's IPv6 processing routines and demonstrates a lack of proper input validation for network packets that could potentially trigger system instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of IPv6 packets when the system's IPv6 interface is present but lacks IPsec configuration. When remote attackers send specifically crafted network traffic to systems running Solaris 10 with IPv6 interfaces, the kernel's packet processing logic fails to properly validate the incoming data structure. This validation failure causes the system to enter an undefined state that ultimately results in a complete system crash. The vulnerability is particularly insidious because it does not require authentication or special privileges to exploit, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can send network packets to the target system. The flaw falls under the category of improper input validation, which aligns with CWE-20, and represents a classic example of a buffer overflow or memory corruption issue that leads to denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-3248 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can cause complete system outages that may require manual intervention to restore normal operations. Organizations running Solaris 10 systems with IPv6 interfaces are particularly vulnerable, as the attack can be executed remotely without requiring physical access or elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects systems that have IPv6 capabilities enabled but have not implemented proper IPsec security measures, creating a dangerous exposure window where any network traffic could potentially trigger the system crash. This represents a significant concern for enterprise environments where Solaris 10 systems may be exposed to untrusted network segments, as the vulnerability can be exploited through standard network traffic without requiring specialized tools or techniques.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on implementing the security patch released by Sun Microsystems in June 2007, which addressed the specific kernel-level flaw in IPv6 packet processing. Organizations should immediately apply the relevant update to their Solaris 10 systems to prevent exploitation. Alternative mitigation approaches include disabling IPv6 interfaces when IPsec is not properly configured, implementing network segmentation to isolate vulnerable systems, and deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious network traffic patterns. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques related to denial of service and system exploitation, specifically mapping to the T1499.004 sub-technique for network denial of service. Network administrators should also consider implementing proper network monitoring to detect anomalous traffic patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper protocol configuration and the necessity of applying security patches promptly to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in operating system kernels.