CVE-2019-2704 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Oracle Solaris component of Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite (subcomponent: IPS Package Manager). The supported version that is affected is 11. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Solaris. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle 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).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2704 resides within the Oracle Solaris operating system's IPS Package Manager component, specifically affecting version 11 of the Sun Systems Products Suite. This weakness represents a significant security gap in the system's network services architecture, where the IPS package manager fails to properly authenticate incoming HTTP requests. The vulnerability operates at the application layer of the network stack and specifically targets the package management functionality that handles software updates and installations. Security researchers have classified this issue as easily exploitable due to the lack of authentication requirements for accessing the affected service, making it particularly dangerous in unsecured network environments where attackers can readily access the system through standard HTTP protocols.
The technical flaw manifests as a failure in the IPS Package Manager's authentication mechanism, allowing any remote attacker with network access to HTTP ports to execute unauthorized read operations against the system's package management database. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication flaws in software systems. The attack vector requires only network connectivity to the target system's HTTP service, eliminating the need for credentials or privileged access. The vulnerability specifically affects the confidentiality aspect of the system's security posture as outlined in the CVSS 3.0 scoring system, where the base score of 5.3 indicates a moderate impact level. The attack complexity is rated as low since no special privileges or authentication credentials are required to exploit this weakness, and the attacker can perform unauthorized data access through standard web browser or HTTP client tools.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to access sensitive package management information that could reveal system configuration details, installed software versions, and potentially sensitive metadata about the system's software inventory. The compromised data access is limited to a subset of accessible information rather than full system compromise, yet this partial access can provide attackers with valuable intelligence for further exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would fall within the T1083 - File and Directory Discovery technique, as attackers could enumerate package information and system components through this unauthorized access. Additionally, the weakness could enable lateral movement within networks where Solaris systems are deployed, as attackers might use the gathered information to plan more sophisticated attacks against other systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to restrict access to the affected HTTP services, deploying firewalls to block unauthorized HTTP access to the IPS package manager, and applying Oracle's security patches as soon as they become available. The recommended approach involves disabling unnecessary HTTP services, implementing strong access controls, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious HTTP requests to the package manager endpoints. System administrators should also consider implementing network access control lists that restrict access to the affected services based on trusted IP addresses and implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper authentication mechanisms in system components and demonstrates how seemingly minor security flaws in package management systems can provide attackers with unauthorized access to sensitive system information.