CVE-2018-2754 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Solaris component of Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite (subcomponent: ZVNET Driver). 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 of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized creation, deletion or modification access to critical data or all Solaris accessible data and unauthorized ability to cause a hang or frequently repeatable crash (complete DOS) of Solaris. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 7.7 (Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2754 resides within the Solaris operating system's ZVNET driver component, which is part of Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite. This flaw represents a significant security weakness in the networking stack of Solaris 11.3 systems, where the vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker who has already gained logon access to the underlying infrastructure. The ZVNET driver handles virtual network interface operations and serves as a critical component in Solaris networking functionality, making it a prime target for exploitation. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that the attack surface is relatively accessible to threat actors with basic system access, creating a dangerous scenario where local privileges can be leveraged for more severe compromises.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the ZVNET driver implementation. When processing network packets or virtual network operations, the driver fails to properly validate certain parameters, potentially allowing an attacker to manipulate driver behavior through crafted inputs. This flaw falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it allows for both integrity and availability attacks simultaneously, as demonstrated by the CVSS 3.0 base score of 7.7. The attack vector AV:L indicates local access is required, while the low attack complexity AC:L suggests minimal technical skill is needed to exploit the flaw, and the lack of required privileges PR:N shows that no authentication is needed beyond initial system access.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-2754 extends beyond simple data compromise to include complete system disruption capabilities. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can create, delete, or modify critical system data without proper authorization, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The ability to cause repeated system crashes or hangs represents a serious availability threat that can render Solaris systems unusable for extended periods. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where Solaris systems are used for mission-critical applications, as the potential for denial of service attacks can severely impact business operations. The vulnerability's impact on system availability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499, which covers network denial of service attacks, while the data modification capabilities correspond to T1566, representing credential access through network attacks.
Organizations running Solaris 11.3 systems must implement immediate mitigation strategies to protect against exploitation of this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves applying Oracle's security patches and updates as soon as they become available, which typically address the underlying memory handling issues in the ZVNET driver. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous network behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's local attack requirement means that organizations should enforce strict access controls and monitor for unauthorized system access. Additionally, implementing network intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious network traffic patterns associated with the ZVNET driver can provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider disabling unnecessary virtual network interfaces and services to reduce the attack surface. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in controlled environments before deployment to production systems to ensure that the security updates do not introduce compatibility issues or system instability. Organizations should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues in other system components and maintain updated security baselines to prevent exploitation of related vulnerabilities.