CVE-2011-2304 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Solaris 10 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, related to Network Services Library (libnsl).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2304 resides within Oracle Solaris 10 operating system and specifically targets the Network Services Library component known as libnsl. This unspecified weakness represents a significant security gap that could be exploited by remote attackers to compromise the confidentiality of network communications. The Network Services Library serves as a critical interface for various network operations and service interactions within the Solaris environment, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The technical flaw within libnsl manifests as a vulnerability that enables remote attackers to potentially intercept, modify, or access confidential data transmitted through network services. While the exact nature of the vulnerability remains unspecified in the initial description, such weaknesses typically involve improper input validation, buffer overflows, or insecure handling of network requests within the library functions. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure as the vulnerability affects fundamental network service operations that depend on libnsl for proper functionality. This creates a cascading effect where compromised network services could lead to broader system infiltration and data breaches.
From an operational perspective, the exploitation of this vulnerability could result in severe consequences for organizations running Solaris 10 systems. Attackers leveraging this weakness might gain access to sensitive network communications, potentially including authentication credentials, proprietary data, or system configuration information. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the systems, significantly expanding the attack surface and making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where network services are extensively utilized. The vulnerability's impact on confidentiality directly violates core security principles and could lead to compliance violations under various regulatory frameworks.
Organizations should prioritize immediate mitigation efforts including applying Oracle's official security patches and updates to address the vulnerability in libnsl. System administrators should also implement network monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any systems running affected versions of Solaris 10. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation" as a fundamental weakness that can lead to various security issues including information disclosure. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged under the technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol and T1046 for network service scanning, potentially leading to broader reconnaissance and lateral movement activities. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems and network traffic analysis tools to identify anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts.