CVE-2007-5422 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in "Solaris Auditing" in the Basic Security Module (BSM) in Sun Solaris 10, when configured for auditing of networking (nt) events, allows local users to cause a denial of service (panic) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5422 resides within the Basic Security Module (BSM) of Sun Solaris 10 operating system, specifically affecting the Solaris Auditing functionality when configured to monitor networking events. This issue represents a critical security flaw that can be exploited by local attackers to trigger system panics and subsequent denial of service conditions. The vulnerability manifests within the auditing subsystem that is designed to track and record security-relevant events on the system, particularly those involving network operations. The BSM component serves as a fundamental element in Solaris security infrastructure, providing detailed logging of system activities including user authentication, file access, and network communications. When the system is configured to audit networking events, the vulnerability becomes exploitable through unspecified attack vectors that ultimately lead to system instability and potential complete system shutdown.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of certain auditing events within the BSM framework when network-related activities are being monitored. Local users with access to the system can manipulate specific conditions that cause the auditing subsystem to enter an inconsistent state, resulting in kernel-level panic conditions. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of kernel-level flaws that can be particularly dangerous as they operate at the core of system security mechanisms. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack paths may exist, potentially involving malformed audit records, specific sequence of network operations, or manipulation of audit configuration parameters. Such vulnerabilities are particularly concerning because they can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges beyond normal user access, making them accessible to any local user with system login capabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-5422 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the entire system stability and availability. When a system panic occurs due to this vulnerability, it can result in complete system crashes requiring manual reboot and potentially leading to data loss or corruption. The denial of service condition affects the reliability of security monitoring capabilities, as the auditing system becomes unavailable during the attack. This creates a dangerous situation where system administrators lose visibility into security events while the system is under attack, potentially masking other malicious activities. The vulnerability affects systems that rely on comprehensive network auditing for compliance requirements, security monitoring, or forensic analysis, making it particularly problematic in enterprise environments where security auditing is critical for regulatory compliance and incident response.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate system hardening and configuration management. Organizations should ensure that Solaris 10 systems are patched with the appropriate security updates provided by Sun Microsystems, as this vulnerability was addressed through official patches. System administrators should consider disabling network auditing functionality when it is not strictly required, as this can eliminate the attack surface entirely. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and monitoring for unusual system behavior can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which addresses improper access to memory locations, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service, though the specific vector involves kernel-level manipulation. Regular system monitoring and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in legacy systems, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for core system components. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and privileged access controls to limit local user capabilities and reduce the potential impact of such local privilege escalation vulnerabilities.