CVE-2017-3631 in Sun Systems Products Suite
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 low privileged attacker with logon to the infrastructure where Solaris executes to compromise Solaris. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized update, insert or delete access to some of Solaris accessible data as well as unauthorized read access to a subset of Solaris accessible data and unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of Solaris. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 5.3 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3631 resides within the Solaris kernel component of Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite, representing a significant security weakness that affects Solaris version 11 installations. This flaw operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it provides attackers with deep system access capabilities. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that sophisticated attack techniques are not required, potentially allowing even less experienced threat actors to leverage this weakness effectively. The attack vector requires only a low privileged user account with logon access to the Solaris infrastructure, significantly broadening the potential threat landscape.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls within the kernel subsystem, allowing an authenticated attacker to manipulate system resources beyond their intended permissions. The flaw enables unauthorized modification of system data through update, insert, or delete operations on accessible Solaris data repositories. Additionally, the vulnerability permits unauthorized read access to sensitive data subsets, creating potential information disclosure risks. The partial denial of service capability means that successful exploitation can disrupt system operations, though not completely incapacitating the system. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and represents a classic privilege escalation scenario where limited user access is leveraged to gain broader system privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-3631 extends beyond simple data compromise, as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate system integrity and availability. The CVSS 3.0 base score of 5.3 indicates a medium severity classification, but the combination of confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts creates a substantial risk profile. Attackers could potentially modify critical system files, access confidential data repositories, or disrupt normal system operations through partial denial of service conditions. The low attack complexity and low privilege requirements mean that this vulnerability could be exploited by insiders or attackers who have gained initial access through other means. Organizations running Solaris 11 systems face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where multiple users have legitimate access to the system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch deployment through Oracle's security updates, as this represents the most effective remediation approach. System administrators should implement strict access control measures and monitor user activities for suspicious behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and privilege minimization practices can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation by reducing the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in system components. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing kernel-level vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, highlighting the need for comprehensive security controls that address both user access management and kernel-level protections.