CVE-2010-3516 in OpenSolaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Solaris 10 and OpenSolaris allows local users to affect availability via unknown vectors related to InfiniBand.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3516 represents a significant security weakness within Oracle Solaris 10 and OpenSolaris operating systems that specifically impacts the InfiniBand subsystem. This unspecified vulnerability resides within the kernel-level components responsible for managing high-speed network interconnects used in data center environments and high-performance computing clusters. The affected InfiniBand implementation within these operating systems creates potential pathways for local attackers to compromise system availability through mechanisms that remain undisclosed in the public CVE database. Such vulnerabilities are particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Solaris systems often serve as critical infrastructure components for large-scale computing operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability suggests a flaw within the InfiniBand driver or kernel module that handles network communication protocols and hardware resource management. Local users with access to the system can potentially exploit this weakness to cause system instability, service disruption, or complete system unavailability. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors indicates that the vulnerability may involve memory corruption, resource exhaustion, or privilege escalation mechanisms that affect the InfiniBand subsystem's ability to properly manage network connections and hardware resources. This type of vulnerability typically operates at the kernel level where the distinction between user and kernel space becomes blurred, allowing local privilege escalation to occur through carefully crafted system calls or hardware interaction patterns.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-3516 extends beyond simple availability concerns to encompass broader system reliability and security posture implications. In data center environments where InfiniBand networks are utilized for high-speed interconnectivity between servers, this vulnerability could result in cascading failures that affect entire computing clusters. The local nature of the attack means that any user with access to the system, whether through legitimate administrative access or compromised accounts, could potentially exploit this weakness. This creates a significant risk for organizations that rely on Solaris systems for mission-critical applications, as the vulnerability could be leveraged to cause denial of service conditions that disrupt business operations. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that InfiniBand is commonly used in high-performance computing environments where system uptime is critical.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems through Oracle's official security updates and advisories. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit local user privileges and reduce the attack surface. The principle of least privilege should be enforced across all Solaris systems to prevent unauthorized users from gaining access to potentially vulnerable kernel components. Security monitoring should include detection of anomalous InfiniBand network behavior and system resource consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can monitor for suspicious kernel-level activities and network protocol anomalies. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses weaknesses in memory handling and improper access to resources, and may also relate to ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through kernel vulnerabilities. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their InfiniBand infrastructure to identify additional related weaknesses that could compound the risk posed by this vulnerability.