CVE-2009-1359 in OpenSolaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the SCTP sockets implementation in Sun OpenSolaris snv_106 through snv_107 allows local users to cause a denial of service (panic) via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-1359 represents a critical flaw within the Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) sockets implementation of Sun OpenSolaris operating systems. This issue affects specific versions of the OpenSolaris build series, namely snv_106 through snv_107, where the SCTP protocol stack contains an unspecified weakness that can be exploited by local attackers to trigger system-level instability. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the networking subsystem, specifically targeting the SCTP socket handling mechanisms that govern how the operating system manages stream control transmission protocol connections. Such vulnerabilities in core networking components pose significant risks to system availability and can potentially compromise the entire operating environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation or error handling within the SCTP implementation that processes socket operations. When local users execute specific sequences of operations or provide malformed input to SCTP socket functions, the system's kernel becomes susceptible to triggering a panic condition that results in immediate system termination. This panic state represents a kernel-level fault condition that cannot be recovered from gracefully, forcing the system to reboot or become unresponsive. The unspecified nature of the exact vector suggests that multiple attack paths may exist within the SCTP stack implementation, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could be exploited through various means without specific knowledge of the precise triggering mechanism. This class of vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which addresses weaknesses in the storage of data that could lead to memory corruption and system instability.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-1359 extends beyond simple denial of service, as it represents a potential pathway for more sophisticated attacks that could leverage the panic condition to gain unauthorized access or escalate privileges. Local users with minimal system access can exploit this vulnerability to disrupt services, potentially causing cascading failures in network-dependent applications and systems. The vulnerability's presence in OpenSolaris builds snv_106 through snv_107 means that organizations running these specific versions face immediate risk, as the flaw exists in the base operating system rather than being confined to third-party applications. System administrators must consider that local privilege escalation opportunities may exist, as the kernel-level panic condition could potentially be manipulated to achieve higher privileges or bypass security controls. From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability could be particularly problematic in mission-critical environments where system uptime and availability are paramount.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-1359 require immediate attention from system administrators and security teams responsible for OpenSolaris environments. The most effective immediate solution involves upgrading to a patched version of Sun OpenSolaris beyond the affected snv_106 through snv_107 build series, as Oracle typically releases security patches that address such kernel-level vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of system logs and network activity to detect potential exploitation attempts, as the panic condition may generate specific kernel error messages or system crash reports that can indicate successful exploitation. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit local user access to systems running vulnerable OpenSolaris versions, thereby reducing the attack surface. System hardening measures including disabling unnecessary network services and restricting local user privileges can help minimize the impact if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK framework would likely fall under privilege escalation techniques and system compromise methods, as local users can leverage kernel-level flaws to gain unauthorized system control. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar weaknesses in other kernel components, as this type of vulnerability often indicates broader implementation issues within the operating system's networking stack.