CVE-2007-6225 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Sun Solaris 10, when 64bit mode is used on the x86 platform, allows local users in a Linux (lx) branded zone to cause a denial of service (panic) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2025
This vulnerability exists within the Sun Solaris 10 operating system when running in 64-bit mode on x86 hardware platforms. The issue specifically affects Linux (lx) branded zones, which are containerized environments that allow Linux applications to run within Solaris. The vulnerability manifests as an unspecified flaw that can be exploited by local users within these branded zones to trigger a system panic, effectively causing a denial of service condition. The root cause lies in the interaction between the 64-bit kernel execution environment and the lx branded zone implementation, where certain memory management or system call handling patterns can lead to kernel-level instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation or memory handling within the Solaris kernel when processing requests from lx branded zones in 64-bit mode. When a local user within such a zone executes specific operations, the kernel fails to properly handle the resulting system state, leading to an unhandled exception that causes the operating system to panic. This represents a classic kernel-level vulnerability that can be classified under CWE-248, which deals with an exception being thrown out of a try block without being caught. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows privilege escalation from a local user context to a system-wide panic condition, which can be exploited to disrupt critical system services and potentially compromise the availability of the entire platform.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can affect system stability and availability in production environments. In enterprise settings where Solaris 10 systems are deployed with lx branded zones for application compatibility, this vulnerability could be exploited by malicious insiders or compromised users to disrupt services, potentially causing cascading failures in applications that depend on the underlying operating system. The vulnerability affects systems running in 64-bit mode, which represents a significant portion of modern Solaris deployments, making the impact widespread. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004 - Endpoint Denial of Service, where adversaries can cause system instability through kernel-level exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected Solaris 10 systems with the appropriate security updates from Oracle. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and alerting for system panic events, as these can serve as indicators of exploitation attempts. The use of zone isolation techniques and limiting the privileges of users within lx branded zones can help reduce the attack surface. Additionally, system administrators should consider disabling 64-bit mode for lx zones if the functionality is not required, or migrating to newer Solaris versions that have addressed this vulnerability. Regular security assessments of containerized environments and kernel-level configurations should be conducted to identify similar issues that may exist in other system components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of thorough testing of kernel modifications and the need for robust input validation in operating system components that handle user-space requests.