CVE-2009-0267 in OpenSolaris
Summary
by MITRE
libike in Sun Solaris 9 and 10, and OpenSolaris before snv_100, does not properly check packets, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (in.iked daemon crash) via an unspecified IKE packet, a different vulnerability than CVE-2007-2989.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-0267 affects the libike library component in Sun Solaris operating systems version 9 and 10, as well as OpenSolaris before the snv_100 release. This issue specifically targets the in.iked daemon which is responsible for handling Internet Key Exchange protocol communications. The flaw represents a classic input validation weakness where the system fails to properly validate incoming IKE packets before processing them, creating an avenue for malicious actors to exploit the system's trust in incoming network data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate packet validation mechanisms within the libike library. When the in.iked daemon receives an IKE packet, it does not perform sufficient checks to verify the packet's integrity, format, or expected content before attempting to process it. This lack of proper validation allows remote attackers to craft specially malformed or unexpected IKE packets that, when processed by the daemon, trigger unexpected behavior leading to a crash. The vulnerability is classified as a denial of service condition because the daemon terminates unexpectedly, rendering the IKE service unavailable to legitimate users while the system requires manual intervention to restore normal operation.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to network security infrastructure that relies on IKE for secure communications and VPN establishment. The attack vector is entirely remote, meaning an attacker does not require physical access or local credentials to exploit the vulnerability. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the crash of the in.iked daemon can potentially interrupt ongoing secure communications, affect network connectivity for authenticated users, and create opportunities for more sophisticated attacks that might follow the initial denial of service. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where IKE services are critical for secure remote access and site-to-site VPN connections.
The flaw aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a common pattern in network service implementations where trust assumptions about incoming data lead to exploitable conditions. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004 for network denial of service and potentially T1566 for initial access through network services. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying vendor patches, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, and monitoring for suspicious IKE traffic patterns. The recommended approach involves updating to patched versions of Solaris, configuring firewall rules to limit IKE traffic to trusted sources, and establishing robust monitoring procedures to detect daemon crashes and potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed IKE packets and provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts.