CVE-2015-2662 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Sun Solaris 10 and 11.2 allows local users to affect availability via vectors related to DHCP Server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2662 represents a significant security flaw within Oracle Sun Solaris operating systems, specifically affecting versions 10 and 11.2. This issue resides within the DHCP server component and demonstrates how local attackers can exploit system resources to compromise availability. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability details suggests that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, though the classification as a local privilege escalation vector indicates that an attacker with existing system access could potentially disrupt normal operations. Such vulnerabilities are particularly concerning as they leverage legitimate system components to create denial of service conditions that can severely impact enterprise network infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests through DHCP server functionality, which is critical for network operations in Solaris environments. DHCP servers automatically assign IP addresses and configure network parameters for devices connecting to a network, making this component essential for maintaining connectivity and system availability. When local users can manipulate DHCP server behavior, they can potentially cause service interruptions, IP address conflicts, or network disruption that affects the entire system or network segment. The vulnerability's classification under local access conditions means that attackers must already have some level of system presence, typically through legitimate user accounts or compromised credentials, before they can exploit the flaw.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a serious threat to enterprise network stability and business continuity. Solaris systems often serve as critical infrastructure components including file servers, database servers, and network services that organizations depend upon for daily operations. A successful exploitation of CVE-2015-2662 could result in complete network outages, service disruptions, or forced system reboots that can cascade across multiple dependent systems. The availability impact is particularly severe because DHCP services are fundamental to network operations, and any disruption to these services can effectively isolate networked devices and prevent normal communication. This vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and denial of service tactics, where adversaries leverage existing system access to create operational disruptions.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies that include immediate patching of affected Solaris systems, network segmentation to limit local access privileges, and enhanced monitoring of DHCP server activities for anomalous behavior. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and following the principle of least privilege for system accounts. System administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can monitor for unusual DHCP server activities and establish clear incident response procedures for handling potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of how seemingly routine network services can become attack vectors when security flaws exist within their implementation, highlighting the need for continuous security assessment and proactive vulnerability management programs that align with industry standards such as those defined in the CWE database for software security weaknesses.