CVE-2010-0895 in OpenSolaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Solaris component in Oracle Sun Product Suite OpenSolaris snv_119 allows local users to affect integrity and availability via unknown vectors related to IP Filter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-0895 resides within the Solaris component of Oracle Sun Product Suite OpenSolaris snv_119, specifically impacting the IP Filter functionality. This unspecified weakness represents a critical security gap that local attackers can exploit to compromise system integrity and availability. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical details of the flaw were not fully disclosed in the initial advisory, making it particularly challenging for security professionals to implement targeted mitigations. The IP Filter component serves as a crucial network filtering mechanism within the OpenSolaris operating system, responsible for packet filtering and network access control. When compromised, this component can undermine the fundamental security posture of systems running OpenSolaris snv_119, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate network traffic flow and disrupt service availability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies within the IP Filter subsystem, which operates at the kernel level of the operating system. As a local privilege escalation vector, the flaw enables attackers who already have access to the system to elevate their privileges and gain unauthorized control over critical network filtering functions. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass both integrity and availability aspects, meaning attackers can potentially corrupt system data and disrupt network services. This dual impact classification aligns with common security principles where a single vulnerability can compromise multiple security properties simultaneously. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests that the flaw may involve complex interactions between different kernel components or may be related to improper input validation within the IP Filter implementation. Such vulnerabilities often stem from memory corruption issues or improper access control mechanisms within kernel space components.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-0895 represents a significant threat to OpenSolaris environments, particularly those relying on IP Filter for network security policies. Local users with minimal privileges can exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated access, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The availability impact means that attackers can disrupt network services by manipulating IP Filter rules or by causing system instability through kernel-level modifications. This vulnerability affects systems where IP Filter is actively configured and operational, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where network security policies are heavily dependent on proper filtering mechanisms. The local nature of the attack vector implies that attackers do not require network access or specialized tools beyond existing system access, making the vulnerability particularly insidious as it can be exploited from within the system itself.
Organizations running OpenSolaris snv_119 systems should prioritize immediate remediation through Oracle's security patches and updates. The vulnerability's classification as a local privilege escalation issue necessitates comprehensive system hardening measures beyond simple patching. Security teams should implement monitoring for unusual network filtering behavior and unauthorized rule modifications. The mitigation strategy should include regular system audits to detect potential exploitation attempts and enhanced logging of IP Filter activities. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and privilege separation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and highlights the risks associated with running unsupported or outdated operating system versions. The attack surface for such vulnerabilities is particularly concerning given that IP Filter is a fundamental component of network security in OpenSolaris environments.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control and CWE-119 Improper Access Control categories, reflecting the kernel-level privilege escalation aspects and memory access violations that typically characterize such flaws. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1068 Privilege Escalation and T1490 Inhibit System Recovery, as it enables local users to gain elevated privileges and potentially disrupt system availability. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests potential similarities to other kernel-level memory corruption issues that have been documented in similar operating system components, making this vulnerability a potential indicator of broader architectural weaknesses in the IP Filter implementation. Security professionals should approach this vulnerability with caution, as the lack of specific technical details in the original advisory may indicate either a complex exploitation scenario or a deliberately obscured flaw that could have broader implications for system security.