CVE-2009-2486 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the SCTP implementation in Sun Solaris 10, and OpenSolaris before snv_120, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (panic) via unspecified packets.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2486 represents a critical flaw within the Stream Control Transmission Protocol implementation found in Sun Solaris 10 operating systems and various OpenSolaris releases prior to snv_120. This issue manifests as an unspecified weakness in how the system processes certain network packets, leading to a potential system panic condition that results in complete service disruption. The SCTP protocol, designed for reliable data transmission across IP networks, is particularly sensitive to malformed packet structures that can trigger unexpected system behavior in kernel-level implementations. Such vulnerabilities are especially dangerous in enterprise environments where network availability is paramount and system stability directly impacts business operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of specific packet formats within the SCTP stack, which causes the kernel to enter an unrecoverable state when processing these malformed inputs. This type of flaw typically falls under the category of kernel-level memory corruption or state management issues that can be exploited through carefully crafted network traffic. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified suggests that the exact packet structure or processing step that triggers the panic condition was not fully detailed in the initial reporting, making it challenging for security teams to implement precise defensive measures. According to CWE taxonomy, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input boundaries, and potentially CWE-119, concerning weaknesses in memory management that can lead to system crashes.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-2486 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential system-wide instability that can affect network infrastructure and application availability. Remote attackers capable of sending malicious SCTP packets can trigger system panics that require manual intervention to restore normal operations, potentially leading to extended downtime and service degradation. This vulnerability particularly affects systems that rely heavily on SCTP for communication, including telecommunications equipment, network infrastructure devices, and enterprise applications that utilize this protocol for reliable data transmission. The attack vector requires only network access to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network boundaries are not strictly controlled or segmented. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and potentially T1595.001 for reconnaissance activities that identify vulnerable systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on applying vendor-provided patches and updates to affected Solaris systems, as well as implementing network-level controls to restrict SCTP traffic where possible. Organizations should prioritize patch management processes to ensure all systems running Solaris 10 or affected OpenSolaris versions receive the necessary security updates. Network administrators can implement packet filtering rules to drop SCTP traffic at perimeter devices, though this approach may impact legitimate applications that require SCTP functionality. System monitoring should include detection of abnormal system behavior or kernel panic events that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing robust network segmentation strategies to limit the potential impact of such kernel-level exploits. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar issues across their network infrastructure.