CVE-2018-3267 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Solaris component of Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite (subcomponent: LFTP). The supported version that is affected is 11.3. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via FTP to compromise Solaris. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of Solaris accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 5.3 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3267 resides within the Solaris operating system's LFTP ( Lightweight File Transfer Protocol) component, which is part of Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite. This flaw affects Solaris version 11.3 and represents a significant security weakness that could be exploited by malicious actors without requiring authentication or prior access privileges. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that attackers can leverage network-based attacks to compromise systems running the affected software, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network exposure is common. The CVSS 3.0 score of 5.3 reflects the moderate severity of the issue, with the primary impact centered on confidentiality rather than integrity or availability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper access controls within the LFTP implementation that allows unauthorized network-based attackers to gain read access to sensitive data within the Solaris environment. This flaw specifically affects the Lightweight File Transfer Protocol functionality, which is designed to provide efficient file transfer capabilities while maintaining security boundaries. The vulnerability's design allows attackers to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and directly access files that should otherwise be restricted, creating a data exposure scenario that could lead to information disclosure. The attack vector is classified as network-based, meaning that malicious actors can exploit this vulnerability from remote locations without requiring physical access to the system or elevated privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-3267 extends beyond simple data theft, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the security model of the Solaris operating system's file transfer capabilities. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to access sensitive system files, configuration data, user information, or other confidential resources that are accessible through the LFTP protocol. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on Solaris for critical operations, as the exposure of even a subset of accessible data could lead to significant business disruption, regulatory compliance violations, or competitive disadvantages. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that organizations cannot rely on standard access control measures to prevent exploitation, requiring more comprehensive security approaches.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on credential access and data extraction techniques. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) which describes insufficient access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized users to access resources. Organizations should implement immediate network segmentation to limit exposure, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious FTP traffic patterns, and ensure that all Solaris systems are updated with the latest security patches. The remediation process should include comprehensive vulnerability scanning to identify all affected systems and implementation of network access controls that limit FTP service exposure to trusted networks only. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments to identify similar access control weaknesses that could be exploited in similar fashion.