CVE-2015-0471 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Sun Solaris 10 and 11.2 allows local users to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors related to libelfsign.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0471 resides within Oracle Sun Solaris operating systems version 10 and 11.2, specifically affecting the libelfsign library component. 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 libelfsign library is responsible for handling elf signature verification and validation processes, making it a crucial component in the system's security framework. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can potentially manipulate or corrupt data, access sensitive information, or disrupt system operations through unspecified attack vectors that leverage the library's functionality.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of elf signature validation within the libelfsign library, which allows malicious local users to bypass security mechanisms that should protect against unauthorized modifications or tampering with executable files and system libraries. This flaw creates opportunities for privilege escalation and unauthorized access to system resources, as the library's signature verification processes fail to properly validate the authenticity and integrity of elf files. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may manifest through various attack paths including malformed elf files, improper error handling during signature verification, or inadequate input validation within the library's processing routines.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to Solaris systems as local users can exploit it to compromise system security and stability. The potential for affecting confidentiality means that attackers could access protected system information, while integrity compromise allows for unauthorized modification of system files and executables. The availability impact suggests that attackers might be able to disrupt system services or create denial of service conditions through manipulation of the vulnerable library. Organizations running Solaris 10 and 11.2 systems face substantial risk from this vulnerability, particularly in environments where local user access is not properly restricted or monitored.
Security mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-0471 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Solaris systems through Oracle's official security updates. System administrators should implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges and monitor for unusual activities related to elf file processing or signature verification. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20 Improper Input Validation and CWE-310 Cryptographic Issues, indicating that the flaw involves both improper handling of input data and potential cryptographic weaknesses in signature validation processes. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior in elf file handling operations and establish network segmentation to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, as attackers may leverage it to gain elevated privileges and avoid detection while manipulating system security controls.