CVE-2013-5833 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Solaris 8 and 9 allows local users to affect availability via unknown vectors related to Filesystem.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5833 represents a significant security weakness in Oracle Solaris operating systems version 8 and 9, specifically within the filesystem component. This unspecified flaw falls under the category of local privilege escalation vulnerabilities that could potentially compromise system availability. The vulnerability affects systems running Solaris 8 and 9 versions where local attackers with existing system access could exploit this weakness to disrupt normal system operations. The filesystem-related nature of this vulnerability suggests it may involve critical system components such as file access controls, directory permissions, or underlying filesystem structures that govern how data is stored and retrieved. The unspecified nature of the exact vector indicates that the precise technical mechanism enabling the availability impact has not been fully detailed in the public disclosure, which is common with certain vulnerability classifications where the full technical details are still being analyzed or restricted for security reasons.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability likely involves manipulation of filesystem operations that could lead to denial of service conditions or system instability. Such filesystem-related vulnerabilities often stem from improper input validation, memory corruption issues, or race conditions within the kernel-level filesystem drivers. The local user context requirement means that attackers must already have some form of system access, typically through legitimate user accounts or compromised credentials, before they can attempt exploitation. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the category of privilege escalation attacks where the initial access level is insufficient to cause the availability impact, but the vulnerability allows elevation to a level where system stability can be compromised. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Solaris 8 and 9 are older operating system versions that may still be in use within enterprise environments, making them attractive targets for exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes or restarts, potentially affecting critical business operations that depend on Solaris systems. When local users can cause availability issues through filesystem manipulation, it can lead to extended downtime, data unavailability, and potential business disruption. Organizations running these older Solaris versions may experience cascading effects where system unavailability impacts dependent services, applications, or network operations. The availability compromise could manifest through various means including filesystem corruption, process termination, or resource exhaustion that prevents normal system operations. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Solaris systems may host critical databases, application servers, or network services that require high availability and reliability. The vulnerability could also enable attackers to create persistent access points or escalate their privileges further, making the initial availability impact a potential stepping stone for more comprehensive system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-5833 should focus on immediate system hardening and operational procedures to reduce the risk of exploitation. Organizations should prioritize applying available patches from Oracle if any are provided for these older Solaris versions, although support for Solaris 8 and 9 has been discontinued. System administrators should implement strict access controls and monitoring to detect unauthorized local access attempts that could lead to exploitation. The principle of least privilege should be enforced to minimize the potential impact of compromised accounts, ensuring that local users have only necessary permissions for their specific roles. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous filesystem access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider migrating away from unsupported Solaris versions to modern operating systems that receive regular security updates and patches. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which deals with improper restriction of operations within a recognized security boundary, and could potentially map to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and denial of service operations within the operating system environment. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in legacy systems that may not have been fully addressed by the original vulnerability disclosure.