CVE-2011-2285 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Solaris 10 allows local users to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors related to Installer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2285 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle Solaris 10 operating system that affects the installer component. This unspecified weakness creates a potential attack surface where local adversaries can compromise the system's fundamental security properties including confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The installer module serves as a critical system component responsible for software deployment and system modifications, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to elevate privileges or disrupt system operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation or protection mechanisms within the Solaris installer process. While the exact vector remains unspecified, such weaknesses typically involve improper input handling, inadequate access controls, or flawed privilege management during installation operations. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially manipulate installation processes to gain unauthorized access to system resources, modify critical files, or disrupt normal system functionality. The local nature of the attack means that an adversary must already have access to the system, but the vulnerability could enable privilege escalation or persistent access to the compromised environment.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to enterprise environments running Solaris 10 systems. The potential compromise of confidentiality means that sensitive data could be accessed or exfiltrated during installation processes, while integrity violations could allow attackers to modify system binaries or configuration files. Availability concerns arise from the possibility that attackers could disrupt system operations or create denial of service conditions through manipulation of the installer. Organizations utilizing Solaris 10 for mission-critical applications face heightened risk of system compromise and potential data breaches.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to CWE-264, which covers permissions, privileges, and access control weaknesses, and potentially CWE-119, which addresses weaknesses in memory management. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting system binary modification and installation process manipulation. Organizations should implement immediate patch management procedures, review system access controls, and monitor for suspicious installation activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date system components and highlights the risks associated with legacy operating systems that may lack modern security protections and ongoing support.