CVE-2008-5699 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
The name service cache daemon (nscd) in Sun Solaris 10 and OpenSolaris snv_50 through snv_104 does not properly check permissions, which allows local users to gain privileges and obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5699 affects the name service cache daemon nscd component within Sun Solaris 10 and various OpenSolaris versions ranging from snv_50 through snv_104. This daemon serves as a caching mechanism for name service lookups including user names, group names, and host names, operating with elevated privileges to maintain efficient system resource access. The core issue stems from insufficient permission validation within the nscd implementation, creating a privilege escalation vector that could be exploited by local attackers to gain elevated system privileges. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the operating system's privilege management architecture, as it allows unprivileged users to potentially access sensitive system information and escalate their privileges to root level access.
The technical flaw manifests in the nscd daemon's failure to properly validate access permissions when processing certain requests or operations. This inadequate permission checking mechanism enables local users to manipulate the daemon's behavior through unspecified vectors that likely involve crafted requests or specific interaction patterns with the caching service. The vulnerability falls under the category of privilege escalation and information disclosure, with potential attack vectors involving manipulation of the name service cache operations. The nscd daemon typically runs with elevated privileges to access system databases and maintain cache consistency, but the flawed permission model allows local attackers to exploit this elevated access for unauthorized operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for systems running affected Solaris versions, as local users could potentially gain root privileges and access sensitive system information that should remain protected. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to obtain confidential data including user credentials, system configuration details, and other sensitive information stored in the name service databases. The privilege escalation capability means that once exploited, attackers could gain complete control over the affected system, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, and further lateral movement within network environments. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and undermines the security model of the operating system's user and group management systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5699 should focus on immediate patch application from Oracle or OpenSolaris maintainers to address the permission checking flaw in the nscd daemon. System administrators should also consider disabling the nscd service entirely if name service caching is not essential for operations, as this removes the attack surface entirely. Additionally, implementing proper monitoring and logging of nscd activity can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper permissions and access control, and could be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1068, privilege escalation through local exploitation. Regular security audits should verify that the nscd service operates with minimal necessary privileges and that proper access controls are in place to prevent unauthorized manipulation of the name service cache operations.