CVE-2016-0458 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Oracle Sun Solaris 11 allows local users to affect availability via vectors related to Kernel DAX.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0458 resides within Oracle Sun Solaris 11 operating system and represents a significant security flaw affecting system availability through kernel-level mechanisms. This issue specifically targets the Kernel DAX functionality, which is designed to provide direct access to device memory for enhanced performance in certain hardware configurations. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability suggests that the exact technical mechanism enabling the availability impact remains undisclosed, though it clearly operates at the kernel level where such flaws can have cascading effects on system stability and operational continuity.
The technical flaw manifests through vectors associated with Kernel DAX, a feature that enables direct memory access to hardware devices without traditional software mediation. When local users exploit this vulnerability, they can manipulate kernel operations to compromise system availability, potentially causing system crashes, hangs, or other destabilizing conditions that prevent normal system operation. The kernel-level nature of this vulnerability means that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, as the kernel represents the core of operating system functionality where critical system resources are managed and controlled.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a serious threat to enterprise environments running Oracle Sun Solaris 11 systems, particularly those utilizing hardware configurations that depend on DAX functionality. Local attackers with minimal privileges can potentially cause system-wide availability issues, leading to service disruptions, data unavailability, and operational downtime that can affect business continuity. The impact extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially compromise the integrity of running applications and services that depend on stable kernel operations. Organizations relying on Solaris 11 for mission-critical applications face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges or sophisticated attack techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0458 should prioritize immediate patching through Oracle's official security updates, which would address the underlying kernel DAX implementation. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging of kernel-level activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses weaknesses in memory handling, and may relate to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and system compromise through kernel-level attacks. Organizations should also review their access controls and implement principle of least privilege to limit local user access that could potentially exploit such vulnerabilities. Regular system updates and vulnerability assessments remain crucial for maintaining system security posture against similar kernel-level threats that could impact availability and operational integrity.