CVE-2019-2541 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle Solaris component of Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite (subcomponent: DHCP Client). The supported version that is affected is 10. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with access to the physical communication segment attached to the hardware where the Oracle Solaris executes to compromise Oracle Solaris. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of Oracle Solaris. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 7.5 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2541 resides within the Oracle Solaris operating system's DHCP client implementation, specifically affecting version 10 which operates under the broader Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite. This represents a significant security weakness in the network infrastructure management capabilities of Solaris systems, where the DHCP client component fails to properly validate incoming network messages. The vulnerability's classification as difficult to exploit indicates that while the attack surface exists, it requires specific conditions to be met for successful compromise. The attack vector requires physical access to the communication segment connected to the target hardware, which aligns with the CVSS vector's AV:A classification indicating an attack requires access to the local network segment. The vulnerability's severity is reflected in its CVSS 3.0 base score of 7.5, which represents a high impact across all three core security principles of confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The technical flaw manifests in the DHCP client's insufficient validation mechanisms when processing network packets, particularly those related to Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol operations. This weakness enables an unauthenticated attacker positioned on the same physical network segment to manipulate DHCP responses and potentially inject malicious network configuration data. The attack exploits the trust relationship that exists between network devices and DHCP servers, where the Solaris system's DHCP client does not adequately verify the authenticity and integrity of received DHCP messages. This type of vulnerability commonly maps to CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and may also align with CWE-121, concerning stack-based buffer overflow conditions, depending on the specific implementation details of the affected code. The operational impact of successful exploitation includes complete system compromise, allowing attackers to gain control over the targeted Oracle Solaris system and potentially use it as a foothold for further network infiltration.
The consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond immediate system compromise, as it enables attackers to potentially escalate privileges and move laterally within network environments where Solaris systems operate. The availability impact of CVSS score indicates that attackers could disrupt network services by manipulating DHCP configurations, while the confidentiality and integrity impacts suggest that sensitive network communications and system data could be compromised or modified. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where Solaris systems are deployed as network infrastructure components, as the physical network access requirement does not necessarily prevent attackers who have gained access to the local network segment through other means such as compromised credentials or network access points. Organizations running Oracle Solaris version 10 on their network infrastructure should consider this vulnerability as a critical threat to their overall security posture, especially in environments where physical security controls may be insufficient. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under T1046, Network Service Scanning, and potentially T1068, Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as attackers could leverage this weakness to gain elevated system privileges and expand their control over network resources. Mitigation strategies should include network segmentation, implementation of DHCP snooping mechanisms, and immediate patching of affected systems to prevent exploitation by malicious actors who may be actively targeting Oracle Solaris environments.