CVE-2013-0400 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Sun Solaris 9 and 10 allows local users to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors related to Filesystem/cachefs.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0400 resides within Oracle Sun Solaris operating systems version 9 and 10, specifically within the filesystem component known as cachefs. This unspecified weakness represents a critical security flaw that enables local attackers to compromise the fundamental security properties of the system including confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, which is common with certain classes of filesystem vulnerabilities that may involve complex interactions between kernel components and cache management systems. The cachefs filesystem serves as a caching layer that improves performance by storing frequently accessed data in memory or on disk, but this functionality introduces potential attack surfaces that malicious local users can exploit. The impact of such vulnerabilities in filesystem components is particularly severe because they can affect system stability and data protection at the core level where file operations are managed.
The technical nature of this vulnerability suggests it operates within the kernel space of the Solaris operating system where cachefs manages file caching operations. Local users with access to the system can potentially leverage this weakness to manipulate cached file data, modify system file structures, or disrupt normal filesystem operations. The unspecified vector nature indicates that multiple attack paths may exist within the cachefs implementation, possibly involving race conditions, improper access controls, or memory corruption issues during cache management operations. This type of vulnerability often stems from inadequate input validation or improper handling of file system operations within the caching layer, creating opportunities for privilege escalation or data manipulation. The vulnerability affects the core filesystem functionality, meaning that successful exploitation could result in unauthorized data access, modification of critical system files, or denial of service conditions that impact the entire system's operation.
From an operational standpoint, the impact of CVE-2013-0400 represents a significant threat to Solaris environments that rely on cachefs for performance optimization. Local users who gain access to systems running affected Solaris versions can potentially compromise the integrity of cached data, leading to data corruption or unauthorized information disclosure. The availability aspect of this vulnerability means that attackers could disrupt normal system operations by causing cache corruption or filesystem instability, resulting in system crashes or performance degradation. Organizations running these older Solaris versions face particular risk because the vulnerability exists in widely deployed systems where local access is often possible through legitimate administrative or user accounts. The attack surface is broad since cachefs is integral to system performance and is enabled by default in many Solaris configurations, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where local user access is not strictly controlled.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-0400 should focus on immediate system hardening and patch management. Organizations should prioritize applying Oracle's security patches and updates that address the specific cachefs vulnerability, as these fixes typically involve kernel-level modifications to improve access controls and memory management within the caching subsystem. System administrators should consider disabling cachefs functionality if it is not essential for system performance, particularly on systems where local user access cannot be strictly controlled. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit local user privileges and reduce the potential impact of exploitation. Monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual filesystem activity or cache-related errors that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege practices and regular security audits can help identify potential exploitation vectors. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-254 category related to security features and the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, emphasizing the need for comprehensive system security measures that address both the immediate vulnerability and broader access control considerations. Organizations should also consider migrating to supported Solaris versions that have addressed this and similar vulnerabilities in the filesystem layer.