CVE-2009-2297 in OpenSolaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the udp subsystem in the kernel in Sun Solaris 10, and OpenSolaris snv_90 through snv_108, when Solaris Trusted Extensions is enabled, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (panic) via unspecified vectors involving the crgetlabel function, related to a "TX panic." NOTE: this issue exists because of a regression in earlier kernel patches.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-2297 represents a critical flaw within the kernel's udp subsystem of Sun Solaris operating systems, specifically affecting versions 10 and OpenSolaris snv_90 through snv_108 when Solaris Trusted Extensions is enabled. This issue manifests as a remote denial of service condition that can trigger system panics, effectively rendering affected systems unavailable to legitimate users. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact attack vectors remain undisclosed, though the impact is severe enough to warrant immediate attention from system administrators and security professionals.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies within the crgetlabel function, which is part of the kernel's handling of security labels in the Trusted Extensions framework. When Solaris Trusted Extensions is enabled, the system maintains strict security label enforcement to prevent information leakage between different security levels. The crgetlabel function is responsible for retrieving and managing these security labels during network operations, particularly within the udp subsystem where it processes incoming packets. This particular vulnerability represents a regression that was introduced by previous kernel patches, meaning that the fix for an earlier issue inadvertently created this new weakness that allows attackers to exploit the system's label handling mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can cause complete system panics that require manual intervention and system restarts. When exploited, the vulnerability allows remote attackers to send specially crafted network packets that trigger the kernel to panic, resulting in immediate system shutdown or reboot. This behavior directly violates the availability principles of the CIA triad and can be particularly devastating in mission-critical environments where uptime is essential. The fact that this vulnerability exists due to a regression means that organizations that applied earlier patches may have inadvertently introduced this weakness, creating a scenario where security updates can sometimes create new vulnerabilities rather than resolve existing ones.
The implications of CVE-2009-2297 align with CWE-119, which addresses "Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer," as the vulnerability involves improper handling of memory operations within the kernel's label management system. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, which covers "Endpoint Denial of Service," and T1566.001, which involves "Phishing with Social Engineering." The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this weakness without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for networked environments. Organizations implementing Solaris Trusted Extensions are especially vulnerable since this feature is designed to provide enhanced security but inadvertently creates this exploitable condition.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch application from Sun Microsystems, which would address the regression that introduced this weakness. System administrators should also consider disabling Solaris Trusted Extensions if the functionality is not strictly required, as this would eliminate the attack surface entirely. Network-level protections such as firewall rules that restrict UDP traffic to only necessary ports and services can help reduce exposure, though these measures are not foolproof given that the vulnerability exists within the kernel itself. Additionally, monitoring for unusual system panic events and implementing robust alerting mechanisms can help detect exploitation attempts before they cause significant damage to system availability. The vulnerability underscores the importance of thorough regression testing when applying kernel patches and highlights the complex security implications that can arise from seemingly benign system modifications.