CVE-2013-3813 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Solaris 10 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality and integrity via vectors related to Libraries/PAM-Unix.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3813 resides within Oracle Solaris 10 operating system and represents a significant security flaw affecting the PAM-Unix libraries component. This issue falls under the broader category of privilege escalation and authentication bypass vulnerabilities that can severely compromise system integrity and data confidentiality. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the core authentication framework of the operating system, specifically targeting the Pluggable Authentication Modules framework which governs user authentication processes. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability description indicates that the exact technical mechanism remains classified, but the impact affects critical system functions related to user access control and session management.
This vulnerability operates at the system library level within the Solaris operating system, specifically targeting the PAM-Unix module that handles traditional Unix authentication mechanisms. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate authentication processes without requiring local system access, which significantly expands the attack surface and potential impact. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability would likely map to CWE-284 for improper access control or CWE-264 for permissions, privileges, and access control issues. The attack vector specifically involves manipulation of the authentication libraries that handle user credentials and session management, potentially allowing unauthorized access to system resources and modification of authentication data.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-3813 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data integrity compromise and confidentiality breaches. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could manipulate user authentication records, modify access permissions, or potentially escalate privileges to gain administrative control over affected systems. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this weakness from external networks without requiring physical access or prior system compromise. This vulnerability directly impacts the fundamental security model of Solaris 10 systems, as it undermines the core authentication mechanisms that protect against unauthorized access to sensitive system resources and data repositories.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-3813 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Oracle, as the vulnerability affects core system libraries that cannot be adequately protected through configuration changes alone. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit exposure of affected systems and monitor for anomalous authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK framework would likely align with techniques such as privilege escalation and credential access, making it essential for security teams to monitor for suspicious authentication events and implement comprehensive logging of PAM module activities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems running vulnerable versions of Solaris 10 and ensure timely remediation through official Oracle security patches.