CVE-2013-0398 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Solaris 8, 9, 10, and 11 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality via unknown vectors related to Utility/Remote Execution Server (in.rexecd).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0398 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle Solaris operating systems spanning versions 8 through 11. This issue specifically targets the Remote Execution Server component known as in.rexecd which serves as a network service for executing commands remotely. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability indicates that the exact technical mechanism enabling the compromise has not been fully disclosed in public documentation, though it is clearly linked to the remote execution service functionality. This service operates on TCP port 512 and has historically been a target for exploitation due to its privileged nature and the potential for unauthorized command execution.
The technical flaw within in.rexecd stems from inadequate input validation and authentication mechanisms that allow remote attackers to manipulate the service in ways that compromise system confidentiality. This weakness enables adversaries to potentially gain unauthorized access to system resources and execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges. The vulnerability's classification as a confidentiality impact issue suggests that attackers can exploit this flaw to access sensitive data and information stored on the affected systems. The service's design inherently assumes trusted network conditions, making it susceptible to exploitation when accessed over untrusted networks or when proper authentication mechanisms are bypassed.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing affected Solaris versions, particularly those with exposed network services or systems that have not implemented proper network segmentation. The remote nature of the attack vector means that adversaries can exploit this flaw from anywhere on the network without requiring physical access to the target systems. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity of the system's security model and can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other exploitation techniques. Organizations relying on legacy Solaris systems for critical operations face particular risk as these systems often lack modern security features and may not receive timely updates.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-0398 should prioritize immediate implementation of network segmentation controls to restrict access to the affected service and disable unnecessary network services. The most effective remediation involves disabling the in.rexecd service entirely through proper system configuration or by removing the associated binaries from the system. Organizations should also implement firewall rules to block incoming connections on TCP port 512 and consider replacing the vulnerable service with more secure alternatives such as SSH-based remote execution. Additionally, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1021.004 for remote service execution and CWE-284 for improper access control, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security controls. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of the service and ensure proper remediation across all system components.