CVE-2009-2488 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the NFSv4 module in the kernel in Sun Solaris 10, and OpenSolaris snv_102 through snv_119, allows local users to cause a denial of service (client panic) via vectors involving "file operations."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-2488 represents a critical flaw within the Network File System version 4 implementation in Sun Solaris operating systems. This issue affects both the standard Sun Solaris 10 release and various OpenSolaris builds ranging from snv_102 through snv_119, indicating a widespread problem that spans multiple system versions and distributions. The vulnerability specifically targets the kernel-level NFSv4 module, which serves as the core component responsible for handling network file system operations between client and server systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests through unspecified file operation vectors that can trigger a client panic condition when processed by the affected NFSv4 module. This panic represents a kernel-level system failure that results in an immediate system crash or reboot, effectively rendering the affected system unavailable for legitimate operations. The flaw operates at the kernel level, meaning that local users with access to the system can exploit this vulnerability without requiring network connectivity or remote access privileges. The unspecified nature of the vectors suggests that multiple types of file operations could potentially trigger this condition, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it may be exploitable through various common file system operations such as open, read, write, or close operations on NFS-mounted filesystems.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant denial of service condition that can severely disrupt system availability and business operations. When a client panic occurs, the affected system becomes completely unresponsive until manual intervention or automatic reboot occurs, potentially resulting in data loss, service interruptions, and extended downtime for critical applications relying on NFS services. The local privilege requirement means that any user with access to the system can potentially exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly concerning in multi-user environments where privilege escalation might be possible through other means. This vulnerability directly impacts the reliability and stability of networked file systems, undermining the fundamental purpose of NFS services which are designed to provide seamless file access across networked systems.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which describes weaknesses related to the use of untrusted input in a way that can cause a buffer overflow or other memory corruption issues. Additionally, this flaw can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers network denial of service attacks that specifically target system availability. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can potentially be leveraged as part of a broader attack strategy where attackers might use the denial of service capability to mask other malicious activities or create windows of opportunity for additional exploitation attempts. Organizations relying on Solaris systems for critical infrastructure must consider this vulnerability as a potential entry point for more sophisticated attacks that could exploit the system instability to gain further access or cause additional damage.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate application of vendor security patches and updates specifically designed to address the NFSv4 kernel module flaw. System administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual panic events or system restarts that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit local user access where possible, while regular security audits should verify that all systems have been properly updated. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing comprehensive vulnerability management processes that can quickly identify and remediate similar issues across the entire infrastructure. Organizations should consider implementing additional logging and monitoring for NFS operations to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts.