Sun Solaris 8/9/10 crontab race condition

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Sun Solaris 8/9/10 and classified as problematic. This affects an unknown function of the component crontab. Performing a manipulation results in race condition. This vulnerability was named CVE-2008-2538. There is no available exploit. It is suggested to install a patch to address this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Sun Solaris 8/9/10 (Operating System). This affects an unknown part of the component crontab. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a race condition vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-362. The product contains a code sequence that can run concurrently with other code, and the code sequence requires temporary, exclusive access to a shared resource, but a timing window exists in which the shared resource can be modified by another code sequence that is operating concurrently. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Unspecified vulnerability in crontab on Sun Solaris 8 through 10, and OpenSolaris before snv_93, allows local users to insert cron jobs into the crontab files of arbitrary users via unspecified vectors.

The bug was discovered 05/30/2008. The weakness was presented 06/03/2008 by Charles Morris (Website). The advisory is shared at xforce.iss.net. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2008-2538 since 06/03/2008. An attack has to be approached locally. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available.

It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 3 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $5k-$25k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 32495 (Solaris 10 (sparc) : 137017-03), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Solaris Local Security Checks. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 115843 (Sun Solaris Security Vulnerability in Solaris crontab (1019260.1)).

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (42763), Tenable (32495), SecurityFocus (BID 29456†), OSVDB (45885†) and Secunia (SA30482†). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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Version

License

Support

  • end of life (old version)

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.6

VulDB Base Score: 8.4
VulDB Temp Score: 7.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Race condition
CWE: CWE-362
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔍
Status: Proof-of-Concept

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 32495
Nessus Name: Solaris 10 (sparc) : 137017-03
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

05/30/2008 🔍
05/30/2008 +0 days 🔍
05/30/2008 +0 days 🔍
06/02/2008 +3 days 🔍
06/02/2008 +0 days 🔍
06/03/2008 +1 days 🔍
06/03/2008 +0 days 🔍
06/03/2008 +0 days 🔍
06/08/2008 +5 days 🔍
03/16/2015 +2472 days 🔍
05/27/2025 +3725 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: oracle.com

Advisory: xforce.iss.net
Researcher: Charles Morris
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2008-2538 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2008-2538
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-42633

OVAL: 🔍

X-Force: 42763
SecurityFocus: 29456 - Sun Solaris 'crontab(1)' Unspecified Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Secunia: 30482
OSVDB: 45885 - CVE-2008-2538 - Sun - Solaris - Unspecified Issue
SecurityTracker: 1020151
Vulnerability Center: 18542 - Sun Solaris 8-10 and OpenSolaris < snv_9 Local Code Execution due to Race Condition in Crontab, Medium
Vupen: ADV-2008-1714

Entryinfo

Created: 03/16/2015 17:00
Updated: 05/27/2025 04:52
Changes: 03/16/2015 17:00 (65), 08/11/2019 09:54 (15), 05/27/2025 04:52 (18)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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