CVE-2009-2012 in OpenSolaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in idmap in Sun OpenSolaris snv_88 through snv_110, when a CIFS server is enabled, allows local users to cause a denial of service (idpmapd daemon crash and idmapd outage) via unknown vectors.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2012 resides within the idmap component of Sun OpenSolaris operating systems spanning versions snv_88 through snv_110. This issue specifically manifests when CIFS server functionality is enabled, creating a potential attack surface that local users can exploit to disrupt system operations. The idmap service plays a critical role in mapping user identifiers between different naming systems, particularly when integrating with CIFS protocols that require user authentication and access control mechanisms. When the idmapd daemon becomes compromised, it directly impacts the broader file sharing infrastructure that relies on proper user mapping for access control.
The technical flaw represents an unspecified vulnerability within the idmap service implementation that enables local privilege escalation scenarios. While the exact vector remains unspecified in the initial description, such vulnerabilities typically stem from improper input validation, memory corruption issues, or race conditions within daemon processes. The idmapd daemon process is responsible for maintaining user identity mappings between local and remote systems, particularly when integrating with Network File System (NFS) and CIFS services. When exploited, this vulnerability results in a complete daemon crash that cascades into an idmapd outage, effectively disrupting the user mapping services that other system components depend upon for proper authentication and authorization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader system reliability and availability concerns. When the idmapd daemon crashes, it creates cascading failures throughout the CIFS and NFS infrastructure, as user access controls become unavailable and file sharing operations may fail. This type of denial of service attack represents a significant concern for enterprise environments where file sharing and user access management are critical components of business operations. The local user exploitation aspect means that attackers do not require network access or remote privileges, making the vulnerability particularly concerning as it can be triggered from within the local system context. The vulnerability's presence in multiple OpenSolaris releases indicates a persistent flaw in the implementation that required ongoing attention and patching across the affected versions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch deployment through official Sun Microsystems updates, as well as implementing network segmentation to limit local user access where possible. System administrators should monitor idmapd daemon processes for unexpected crashes or restart patterns, which may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses memory corruption issues, and potentially CWE-120 which covers buffer overflow conditions. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service, and represents a privilege escalation vector that could be leveraged by adversaries seeking to disrupt critical infrastructure services. Organizations should also consider implementing process monitoring and alerting for the idmapd daemon to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts.