CVE-2018-3268 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Solaris component of Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite (subcomponent: SMB Server). The supported version that is affected is 11.3. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via SMB to compromise Solaris. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of Solaris. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 5.3 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3268 resides within the Solaris operating system's SMB server implementation, specifically affecting version 11.3 of Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite. This represents a significant security weakness in the network services layer that could be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication credentials. The vulnerability operates at the network level through the Server Message Block protocol which is commonly used for file sharing and network communication. The affected component demonstrates a critical design flaw that allows malicious actors to exploit the SMB server functionality without presenting valid credentials or establishing authenticated sessions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and processing within the SMB server implementation. When the Solaris system receives SMB protocol requests, it fails to properly validate certain parameters or handle specific request structures, creating an avenue for exploitation. This flaw manifests as a partial denial of service condition where an attacker can disrupt normal system operations without completely crashing the system or gaining unauthorized access to data. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable indicates that the attack vector requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed through standard network-based tools. The CVSS score of 5.3 reflects the availability impact severity, indicating that while the attack does not compromise confidentiality or integrity, it can significantly disrupt system operations and service availability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for Solaris environments that rely on SMB services for file sharing and network communication. Organizations running Solaris 11.3 systems with active SMB servers face potential disruption of critical business operations, particularly in environments where file sharing services are essential for business continuity. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that any network-connected system with the vulnerable SMB server could be targeted, potentially affecting entire network segments if multiple systems are running the vulnerable software. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions in software implementations, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services through network protocols.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-3268 primarily involve applying the official Oracle security patches and updates that address the specific SMB server implementation flaw. Organizations should immediately implement the security patches provided by Oracle to remediate the vulnerability. Network segmentation and firewall rules can provide temporary protection by blocking SMB traffic at network boundaries, though this approach does not eliminate the vulnerability within the system itself. System administrators should also consider disabling SMB services if they are not required for business operations, as this reduces the attack surface. Monitoring network traffic for unusual SMB protocol patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a partial denial of service means that organizations should also prepare incident response procedures to address potential service disruption scenarios while implementing permanent remediation measures.