CVE-2009-1763 in OpenSolaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Solaris Secure Digital slot driver (aka sdhost) in Sun OpenSolaris snv_105 through snv_108 on the x86 platform allows local users to gain privileges or cause a denial of service (filesystem or memory corruption) via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-1763 resides within the Solaris Secure Digital slot driver component known as sdhost in Sun OpenSolaris operating systems ranging from snv_105 through snv_108 on x86 platform architectures. This represents a critical security flaw that exists within the kernel-level device driver responsible for managing secure digital memory card interfaces. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors indicates that the exact technical mechanisms enabling exploitation remain unclear, though the potential impact spans both privilege escalation and system stability threats. The sdhost driver operates at a low level within the operating system kernel, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise system integrity and gain elevated privileges.
The technical flaw manifests through the improper handling of input data or memory management within the sdhost driver implementation. As a kernel module responsible for secure digital card operations, this driver interfaces directly with hardware components and maintains sensitive system resources. The vulnerability allows local attackers with existing system access to potentially exploit memory corruption issues or manipulate driver behavior to achieve unauthorized privilege elevation. From a cybersecurity perspective, this aligns with common kernel-level vulnerabilities classified under CWE-119 which deals with "Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer" and CWE-248 which addresses "Uncaught Exception." The attack surface is particularly concerning because kernel drivers operate with the highest privilege levels and can directly influence system memory management and access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential denial of service conditions that could render the affected system unstable or unusable. Local users could exploit this weakness to cause filesystem corruption or memory corruption that might lead to complete system crashes or unpredictable behavior. The x86 platform restriction indicates that the vulnerability is specific to certain processor architectures, but this does not limit the severity of the potential compromise. System administrators face significant challenges in detecting and mitigating such vulnerabilities since they operate at kernel level where traditional user-space monitoring tools may not provide adequate visibility. The vulnerability affects systems running OpenSolaris builds that include the sdhost driver, creating a substantial risk for organizations relying on these specific versions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-1763 should focus on immediate system updates and patches provided by Sun Microsystems, as well as implementing comprehensive system monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should consider disabling unused sdhost functionality or removing secure digital card interfaces when not required to reduce the attack surface. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and denial of service operations. System administrators should implement strict access controls and monitor for unusual kernel-level activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of kernel module security testing and proper input validation in device drivers. Additionally, maintaining up-to-date system patches and implementing proper system hardening practices can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can monitor for anomalous behavior in kernel modules and memory management operations.