CVE-2007-5118 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the HID (Human Interface Device) class driver in Sun Solaris 8, 9, and 10 before 20070925 allows local users to cause a denial of service (panic) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5118 represents a critical flaw within the Human Interface Device class driver implementation in Sun Solaris operating systems versions 8, 9, and 10 prior to the 20070925 patch release. This issue resides in the kernel-level HID driver component that manages input devices such as keyboards, mice, and other human interface peripherals. The vulnerability manifests as an unspecified weakness that can be exploited by local attackers to trigger a system panic, effectively causing a denial of service condition that renders the affected system unusable. The HID class driver serves as a fundamental interface between hardware input devices and the operating system kernel, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can impact core system functionality and user interaction capabilities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling mechanisms within the HID driver's processing routines. When malformed or unexpected input data is received from connected human interface devices, the driver fails to properly sanitize or reject such data, leading to kernel-level memory corruption or state inconsistencies that ultimately result in system panic conditions. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-248, which covers unspecified error conditions in software. The root cause likely involves improper bounds checking during device data processing, where the driver does not adequately verify the integrity or expected format of input data from connected HID devices, allowing malicious or malformed input to disrupt normal kernel operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to enterprise environments where Solaris systems serve critical functions. Local users with minimal privileges can exploit this weakness to cause system-wide outages, potentially disrupting business operations and requiring system administrators to perform emergency restarts or recovery procedures. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as system panics can lead to data loss, corrupted filesystem states, and require extensive troubleshooting to restore normal operations. The vulnerability's local nature means that attackers do not require network access or elevated privileges, making it particularly concerning for systems where physical access or user accounts may be compromised. Organizations running affected Solaris versions face potential operational downtime and increased administrative overhead as they must either patch systems immediately or implement temporary workarounds to prevent exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-5118 primarily involve applying the official Sun Microsystems security patches released on or before September 25, 2007, which address the specific kernel-level flaws in the HID driver implementation. System administrators should prioritize patch deployment across all affected Solaris 8, 9, and 10 systems to eliminate the vulnerability exposure. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit local user privileges can help reduce the attack surface, though this represents a secondary mitigation measure. Monitoring systems for unusual panic events or kernel-level errors should be enabled to detect potential exploitation attempts, while regular security audits can help identify systems that may have been overlooked during patch deployment. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege for user accounts and ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to systems running affected Solaris versions. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would place it within the Privilege Escalation and Defense Evasion tactics, as local users can leverage this weakness to cause system instability and potentially hide their activities through system disruptions.