CVE-2017-10095 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Solaris component of Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite (subcomponent: Kernel). The supported version that is affected is 11. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with logon to the infrastructure where Solaris executes to compromise Solaris. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Solaris accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 3.3 (Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10095 resides within the kernel subsystem of Oracle Solaris operating system versions 11, representing a significant security weakness that could be exploited by malicious actors. This flaw exists within the Sun Systems Products Suite and specifically targets the kernel component that manages core system operations and resource allocation. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers with access to the system infrastructure can leverage this weakness without requiring authentication credentials. The attack vector requires local access to the system where Solaris is executing, meaning that an attacker must already have some level of presence on the target machine or network segment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls within the kernel layer, allowing unauthorized modifications to system data through legitimate system processes. According to the CVSS 3.0 scoring system with a base score of 3.3, this vulnerability primarily impacts data integrity rather than confidentiality or availability. The attack complexity is rated as low, requiring minimal technical expertise to exploit, while the privilege requirements are minimal since no authentication is needed. The user interaction requirement of "R" indicates that successful exploitation requires some form of human involvement from individuals other than the attacker, suggesting that the vulnerability may be triggered through user actions or system interactions that could be manipulated by an attacker.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-10095 extends beyond simple data modification, as it enables unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations against Solaris accessible data. This means that an attacker could potentially corrupt system files, modify critical configuration data, or manipulate system logs to hide malicious activities. The integrity impact level of "L" (low) suggests that while the immediate effects may seem limited, the cumulative damage from unauthorized modifications could lead to system instability or further compromise. The vulnerability's presence in the kernel layer makes it particularly dangerous because kernel-level modifications can affect the entire system's operation and security posture.
Organizations running Solaris 11 systems should implement immediate mitigations to protect against exploitation of this vulnerability. The primary defense mechanism involves applying the relevant Oracle security patches and updates as soon as they become available. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring controls to detect unauthorized system modifications and data alterations. Network segmentation and privilege separation practices can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a specific implementation weakness in the kernel's access control mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged during the privilege escalation and persistence phases of an attack lifecycle, as it allows for unauthorized modifications to system data without requiring authentication.
The requirement for human interaction from someone other than the attacker suggests that social engineering or user manipulation techniques may be necessary to trigger the vulnerability, making it more difficult to exploit automatically but not impossible. This characteristic places the vulnerability in a category where user awareness training becomes crucial, as employees may inadvertently trigger the exploit through normal system interactions. The low attack complexity combined with the local access requirement means that this vulnerability could be particularly dangerous in environments where physical or network access is not properly controlled, as it could be exploited by insiders or attackers who have gained initial access through other means. System hardening measures including disabling unnecessary services, implementing strict access controls, and regular security audits should be implemented to reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation of this kernel-level vulnerability.