CVE-2009-3164 in OpenSolaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the IPv6 networking stack in Sun Solaris 10, and OpenSolaris snv_01 through snv_82 and snv_111 through snv_122, when a Cassini GigaSwift Ethernet Adapter (aka CE) interface is used, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (panic) via vectors involving jumbo frames. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2009-2136.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-3164 represents a critical flaw in the IPv6 networking stack of Sun Solaris operating systems, specifically affecting versions through Solaris 10 and various OpenSolaris snapshots. This issue manifests when utilizing Cassini GigaSwift Ethernet Adapter interfaces, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks that can result in system panics. The vulnerability's existence stems from an incomplete remediation of a previously identified issue, CVE-2009-2136, demonstrating how remediation efforts can sometimes introduce new attack vectors or fail to fully address underlying architectural weaknesses. The flaw specifically targets the handling of jumbo frames within the IPv6 networking stack, exploiting a gap in the processing logic that governs large packet transmission across network interfaces.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the improper handling of jumbo frames within the IPv6 networking stack when interfacing with Cassini GigaSwift Ethernet adapters. When these adapters process large frames that exceed standard packet sizes, the system's network stack fails to properly validate or process the frame data, leading to a kernel panic condition. This panic occurs because the networking code does not adequately account for the extended frame sizes that jumbo frames introduce, particularly in IPv6 environments where packet handling differs significantly from IPv4. The flaw exploits a buffer management or frame parsing routine that lacks proper bounds checking for oversized packets, causing memory corruption that ultimately results in system instability and complete service interruption.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to enterprise networks relying on Solaris systems with Cassini GigaSwift adapters, particularly in high-performance computing environments where jumbo frames are commonly used to optimize network throughput. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries need not have physical access or local network privileges to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in externally accessible systems. The denial of service impact can be severe, potentially causing complete system outages that affect critical network services, database operations, and application availability. Organizations running these specific configurations may experience unexpected system crashes, requiring manual intervention to restore services and potentially resulting in extended downtime that impacts business operations and service level agreements.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate application of vendor patches and updates specifically designed to address the incomplete fix for CVE-2009-2136. System administrators should prioritize patching affected Solaris installations and ensure that all network interfaces, particularly those utilizing Cassini GigaSwift adapters, are updated with the latest security patches. Network segmentation strategies and firewall rules can provide temporary mitigation by limiting access to affected systems, though these measures do not address the underlying kernel vulnerability. Monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around jumbo frame processing. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input boundaries, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks, demonstrating how network stack vulnerabilities can be leveraged to create system-wide availability disruptions. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring tools that can detect and alert on anomalous jumbo frame traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.