CVE-2008-2708 in OpenSolaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Sun (1) UltraSPARC T2 and (2) UltraSPARC T2+ kernel modules in Sun Solaris 10, and OpenSolaris before snv_93, allows local users to cause a denial of service (panic) via unspecified vectors, probably related to core files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2708 represents a critical weakness in the kernel modules of Sun Solaris operating systems, specifically affecting the UltraSPARC T2 and UltraSPARC T2+ processor architectures. This issue manifests as an unspecified flaw within the kernel components that governs system stability and resource management, creating a potential pathway for local attackers to disrupt system operations. The vulnerability impacts both Sun Solaris 10 and OpenSolaris versions prior to snv_93, indicating a widespread exposure across multiple system variants that rely on these particular processor architectures. The core nature of the vulnerability suggests it operates at a fundamental level within the kernel's memory management or process handling mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous due to its proximity to system-critical operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors that are most likely related to core file handling within the kernel modules. Core files represent memory snapshots created when a process terminates abnormally, and their improper handling within kernel space can lead to system crashes or panics. The relationship to core files suggests that the vulnerability may involve buffer overflows, improper memory deallocation, or race conditions during the creation, processing, or cleanup of core dump files. This type of flaw typically arises from inadequate input validation or memory management procedures within kernel code that processes core file generation and storage operations. The local nature of the attack means that an attacker must already have access to the system, but the privilege escalation or system compromise potential makes this a significant concern for system administrators and security professionals.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-2708 translates directly into system availability concerns, as local users can trigger kernel panics that result in complete system crashes or reboots. This denial of service condition can be particularly disruptive in enterprise environments where Solaris systems serve critical functions, potentially leading to data loss, service interruptions, and operational downtime. The vulnerability's presence in both Sun Solaris 10 and OpenSolaris environments creates a substantial attack surface, as these systems often operate in mission-critical scenarios including database servers, web applications, and enterprise infrastructure components. The panic conditions generated by this vulnerability can be difficult to diagnose and recover from, as they typically occur at the kernel level where system stability is compromised, potentially leading to data corruption or loss of unsaved work.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate system updates and patches provided by Sun Microsystems to address the kernel module flaws. System administrators must prioritize applying the relevant security patches that specifically target the UltraSPARC T2 and T2+ kernel components, ensuring that all systems running affected Solaris versions receive the necessary updates. Additionally, implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous core file generation patterns may help identify potential exploitation attempts before they lead to system panics. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and may also relate to CWE-122, concerning heap-based buffer overflows, depending on the specific implementation details of the kernel module flaw. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability corresponds to T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and represents a system-level compromise that can lead to broader security incidents when combined with other exploitation techniques. Regular system auditing and core file monitoring should be implemented as part of comprehensive security operations to detect and prevent exploitation of this and similar kernel-level vulnerabilities.