CVE-2011-0813 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Solaris 8, 9, 10, and 11 Express allows local users to affect availability via unknown vectors related to Kernel.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0813 represents a critical security flaw within the kernel components of Oracle Solaris operating systems spanning versions 8 through 11 Express. This unspecified weakness resides in the kernel layer of the operating system, creating potential pathways for local attackers to compromise system availability. The vulnerability's classification as a kernel-level issue indicates its fundamental nature within the system's core architecture, potentially affecting all processes and services that depend on kernel functionality. Such vulnerabilities are particularly concerning because they operate at the lowest privilege level where system integrity and stability are maintained. The unspecified nature of the exact attack vectors suggests that multiple pathways may exist for exploitation, making comprehensive assessment and mitigation more challenging for security professionals. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions of Solaris indicates a persistent flaw that affected the operating system family over an extended period, potentially leaving numerous systems exposed across various organizational environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves local users leveraging kernel-level access to manipulate system resources and potentially cause system instability or complete unavailability. Kernel vulnerabilities typically provide attackers with elevated privileges and direct access to system memory, hardware resources, and core operating system functions. The availability impact suggests that successful exploitation could result in denial of service conditions where legitimate users cannot access system resources, or in more severe cases, complete system crashes or reboots. The attack surface for this vulnerability encompasses all local accounts that can potentially interact with kernel components, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where privilege escalation attacks are common. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses weaknesses in the protection of memory or resources, and may also relate to CWE-20 which covers input validation issues that can lead to kernel-level exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-0813 extends beyond simple availability disruption to potentially compromise the entire system integrity and stability of affected Solaris installations. Organizations running vulnerable versions of Solaris may experience unexpected system outages, data loss, or service interruptions that can have significant business implications. The local nature of the attack vector means that attackers need only have access to a local account on the system, which could be obtained through various means including social engineering, credential theft, or other initial compromise techniques. This vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access or escalate privileges to root level, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The widespread availability of affected Solaris versions across enterprise environments means that organizations may have numerous systems vulnerable to this attack, creating a significant risk landscape that requires immediate attention.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-0813 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with Oracle's security updates and patches released for the specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive system inventory management to identify all affected Solaris installations across their network infrastructure. Access controls and privilege management should be enhanced to limit local user access and reduce the attack surface available to potential exploiters. System monitoring and logging should be configured to detect unusual activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around kernel-level operations. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to validate that systems are properly patched and that no exploitation has occurred. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced to ensure that local users have only the minimum necessary permissions to perform their required functions. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems and security information event management solutions to provide early warning capabilities for potential exploitation attempts. Given the nature of kernel vulnerabilities, organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential system compromise scenarios. The vulnerability's classification as a persistent issue affecting multiple Solaris versions emphasizes the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust vulnerability management processes to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.