CVE-2009-4190 in OpenSolaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the kernel in Sun OpenSolaris 2009.06 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (panic) via unknown vectors, as demonstrated by the vd_solaris2 module in VulnDisco Pack Professional 8.12. NOTE: as of 20091203, this disclosure has no actionable information. However, because the VulnDisco Pack author is a reliable researcher, the issue is being assigned a CVE identifier for tracking purposes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4190 represents a critical kernel-level weakness within Sun OpenSolaris 2009.06 operating system that poses significant security risks to affected systems. This unspecified vulnerability resides in the kernel component of the open source operating system, which forms the core foundation of system operations and security controls. The vulnerability's classification as a denial of service issue indicates that malicious actors can potentially disrupt system availability through carefully crafted attack vectors. The specific nature of these vectors remains undisclosed in the initial CVE description, creating uncertainty for system administrators and security professionals attempting to assess and mitigate potential risks.
The technical flaw manifests through the vd_solaris2 module within the VulnDisco Pack Professional 8.12, which serves as a demonstration tool for exploiting the underlying kernel vulnerability. This module specifically targets the kernel's handling of certain system calls or memory management operations that result in system panic conditions. The vulnerability's exploitation capability stems from improper input validation or buffer handling within kernel space, where malicious inputs can trigger unexpected system behavior leading to complete system crashes. Such kernel-level vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they operate with the highest privilege levels and can bypass traditional user-space security controls. The panic condition that results from exploitation represents a complete system failure where the operating system terminates all processes and becomes unresponsive to user requests.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-4190 extends beyond simple system downtime to potentially compromise entire network infrastructures that rely on OpenSolaris systems. When a kernel panic occurs, the affected system becomes completely unavailable, requiring manual intervention and system reboot to restore normal operations. This vulnerability affects the fundamental reliability of OpenSolaris deployments and can be particularly devastating in mission-critical environments where system uptime is essential for business operations. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers need not have physical access to target systems, enabling widespread disruption through network-based attacks. Organizations running OpenSolaris 2009.06 systems face potential data loss, service interruptions, and increased operational costs due to the need for emergency system recovery procedures.
Security professionals should approach this vulnerability with caution given the lack of specific technical details in the initial disclosure. The absence of actionable information as of the 20091203 disclosure date creates challenges for developing targeted mitigations and defensive strategies. According to common vulnerability enumeration standards, this vulnerability would likely map to CWE-119, which addresses weaknesses in memory handling, or CWE-122, related to buffer overflow conditions in kernel space. The ATT&CK framework would classify this vulnerability under the privilege escalation and denial of service tactics, potentially enabling adversaries to move laterally within networks or disrupt critical services. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to patched versions of OpenSolaris, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, and monitoring for suspicious network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's assignment of a CVE identifier despite limited information reflects the security community's recognition of the potential threat level and the need for tracking and awareness purposes within the broader security ecosystem.