CVE-2011-0821 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Solaris 8, 9, and 10 allows local users to affect confidentiality and integrity via unknown vectors related to uucp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0821 represents a significant security flaw within Oracle Solaris operating systems across versions 8, 9, and 10. This unspecified weakness resides within the uucp (Unix to Unix Copy Protocol) component, which historically served as a fundamental tool for transferring files and executing commands between Unix systems. The uucp implementation in these Solaris versions presents a critical attack surface that could potentially compromise both data confidentiality and system integrity through unspecified attack vectors. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical mechanism enabling exploitation remains partially obscured, though its impact on system security is well-documented.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the uucp service's handling of certain operations or data processing within the Solaris environment. Uucp traditionally operates as a background daemon that manages file transfers and command execution between systems, often running with elevated privileges to facilitate these operations. The flaw likely manifests in improper input validation, memory management issues, or privilege escalation mechanisms within the uucp implementation. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which encompasses weaknesses related to the improper handling of memory or resources, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate system state or access protected data through the compromised uucp service.
From an operational perspective, local users possessing access to systems running vulnerable Solaris versions can exploit this weakness to compromise system integrity and confidentiality. The attack surface is particularly concerning because uucp services often run with elevated privileges and may be accessible to users with limited system access. This vulnerability could enable attackers to modify system files, inject malicious code, or extract sensitive information from the system. The impact extends beyond simple data corruption as the compromised uucp service could provide attackers with persistent access to system resources, potentially serving as a foothold for broader system compromise.
The security implications of CVE-2011-0821 align with ATT&CK technique T1068, which addresses local privilege escalation through exploitation of system vulnerabilities. Attackers leveraging this flaw could potentially move laterally within a network or maintain persistent access to compromised systems. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Solaris versions demonstrates the widespread nature of the issue and underscores the importance of comprehensive patch management across enterprise environments. Organizations running these older Solaris versions face significant risk as the uucp service may provide unauthorized access to system resources that should remain protected. Mitigation efforts should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, though administrators should also consider disabling unnecessary uucp services and implementing network segmentation to limit potential exploitation.
The vulnerability's classification as unspecified reflects the complexity of analyzing legacy system components and the potential for multiple attack vectors within the uucp implementation. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly challenging to defend against as traditional security measures may not adequately protect against all possible exploitation methods. Security professionals should consider the broader context of system hardening, including disabling unused services, implementing proper access controls, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities within the uucp subsystem or related components. The presence of such vulnerabilities in widely deployed operating systems highlights the critical need for ongoing security maintenance and timely patch deployment across enterprise environments.