CVE-2010-2399 in OpenSolaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Solaris 10 and OpenSolaris allows local users to affect availability via unknown vectors related to Kernel/VM.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2399 represents a significant security flaw within the Oracle Solaris operating system family, specifically affecting versions 10 and OpenSolaris. This issue resides within the kernel virtual memory subsystem, making it particularly dangerous as it operates at the core level of the operating system where critical system functions are managed. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors indicates that the exact mechanisms through which exploitation occurs remain partially obscured, though the classification as a local privilege escalation or availability impact suggests that an attacker with access to the system could potentially disrupt normal operations or gain elevated privileges.
The technical flaw manifests within the kernel/VM component of Solaris, which is responsible for managing virtual memory allocation and process isolation. This area of the operating system is critical for maintaining system stability and security boundaries, as it controls how memory is allocated to different processes and how the system handles memory management operations. When vulnerabilities exist within this domain, they can potentially allow malicious code to manipulate memory structures, bypass security mechanisms, or cause system instability that manifests as denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple availability concerns, as local users who can exploit this weakness could potentially compromise the integrity of the entire system. The kernel virtual memory subsystem serves as the foundation for all memory operations on the system, making any compromise of this area particularly severe. An attacker could potentially manipulate memory mappings, corrupt kernel data structures, or gain unauthorized access to system resources that should remain protected. This vulnerability could be exploited to cause system crashes, enable privilege escalation, or create persistent backdoors that allow continued access to compromised systems.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is relatively limited compared to network-facing exploits, as it requires local access to the target system. However, this requirement does not diminish its severity, as local access often indicates that an attacker has already compromised other system defenses or has legitimate administrative access that can be abused. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability fits into the lateral movement and privilege escalation categories of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically mapping to techniques involving kernel exploits and privilege escalation within the operating system. The vulnerability also aligns with CWE-119, which deals with improper access to memory locations, and CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that can occur when memory management is compromised.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2399 should focus on immediate patching of affected systems, as Oracle would have released specific security updates addressing the kernel/VM vulnerability. Organizations should implement strict access controls to limit local system access, as reducing the number of potential attackers who can reach this vulnerability is crucial. System monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual memory management patterns or system instability that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, maintaining current security patches and implementing robust system hardening practices, including disabling unnecessary services and limiting user privileges, will help reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security knowledge and monitoring security advisories from vendors, as the unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors makes it particularly challenging to defend against without proper patch management processes in place.