CVE-2010-3513 in OpenSolaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Solaris 9 and 10, and OpenSolaris, allows local users to affect integrity and availability via unknown vectors related to Device Drivers.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3513 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle Solaris operating systems versions 9 and 10, as well as OpenSolaris, where local attackers can compromise system integrity and availability through unspecified device driver related vectors. This classification places the vulnerability within the realm of local privilege escalation and system stability threats that can significantly impact enterprise environments relying on Solaris infrastructure. The unspecified nature of the exact attack vectors makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it may encompass multiple exploitation pathways that security teams must consider during their threat modeling exercises.
The technical flaw resides in the device driver subsystem of these Solaris versions, which provides a privileged execution environment where kernel-level code operates with elevated privileges. Device drivers in operating systems serve as critical interfaces between hardware components and the kernel, making them prime targets for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or disrupt system operations. When vulnerabilities exist within this subsystem, they can enable local users to manipulate kernel memory, bypass security controls, or corrupt system resources that maintain the integrity of the operating system. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which addresses weaknesses in memory handling that can lead to buffer overflows and privilege escalation scenarios, while also potentially mapping to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through kernel exploits.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple availability concerns to encompass comprehensive system integrity compromise. Local users who can exploit this vulnerability may gain elevated privileges that allow them to modify system files, install malicious software, or manipulate kernel data structures that govern system behavior. The potential for affecting availability through device driver manipulation could result in system crashes, reboot loops, or complete system unresponsiveness, while integrity compromises could lead to persistent backdoors or data corruption that might not be immediately apparent. Organizations running Solaris systems in production environments face significant risk from this vulnerability, particularly in scenarios where local access is possible through legitimate user accounts or where privilege escalation could occur through other attack vectors that ultimately leverage the device driver weakness.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-3513 should focus on immediate patch deployment from Oracle, which would address the underlying device driver vulnerabilities and restore system integrity. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring for unauthorized local access attempts and ensure that all user accounts maintain appropriate privilege levels through principle of least privilege enforcement. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to minimize the potential impact of local privilege escalation, while regular system integrity checks using tools like Tripwire or AIDE can help detect unauthorized modifications to system components. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all operating system components, particularly kernel modules and device drivers that form the foundation of system security. Organizations should also consider implementing privileged access management solutions and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities that may exist in their Solaris environments.