CVE-2017-3301 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 11.3. 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 v3.0 Base Score 3.3 (Integrity impacts).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3301 represents a significant security flaw within the Solaris operating system's kernel component, specifically affecting Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite version 11.3. This weakness resides in the kernel subsystem which serves as the core foundation of the operating system's functionality and security model. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage it without requiring extensive technical expertise or privileged access initially, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments that rely on Solaris for critical operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from a flaw in how the Solaris kernel handles certain data processing operations, creating an avenue for unauthorized modifications to system data. The CVSS v3.0 base score of 3.3 reflects the integrity impact severity, indicating that successful exploitation could enable attackers to perform unauthorized update, insert, or delete operations on Solaris-accessible data. This particular weakness does not require authentication for initial access, meaning that an attacker who has already gained logon access to the Solaris infrastructure can leverage this vulnerability to further compromise the system's data integrity. The requirement for human interaction from someone other than the attacker suggests that while the initial system access may be obtained through other means, the exploitation process itself requires some form of user involvement or system interaction that cannot be fully automated.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-3301 extends beyond simple data modification capabilities, as it represents a potential pathway for more extensive system compromise. When an attacker can manipulate data within the Solaris environment, they may be able to alter critical system files, configuration parameters, or user data that could subsequently affect system stability, availability, and overall security posture. This vulnerability particularly concerns organizations that depend on Solaris for mission-critical applications, as the ability to modify system data without proper authorization creates risks for data corruption, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potential escalation to more severe security breaches. The vulnerability's location within the kernel makes it especially dangerous since kernel-level modifications can affect the entire operating system's functionality and security mechanisms.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies that include immediate patch deployment as the primary defense mechanism, along with enhanced monitoring of system logs for unusual data modification patterns. The vulnerability's characteristics align with CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access controls, and may also relate to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and data manipulation. System administrators should conduct thorough risk assessments to identify all Solaris 11.3 systems within their environment and prioritize patching efforts accordingly. Additional protective measures include implementing network segmentation to limit access to Solaris systems, enforcing strict access controls, and establishing robust audit trails to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses that may exist in the broader system infrastructure, ensuring comprehensive protection against both known and emerging threats that could compromise Solaris system integrity.