Note: This is an archival copy of Security Sun Alert 240706 as previously published on http://sunsolve.sun.com.
Latest version of this security advisory is available from http://support.oracle.com as Sun Alert 1019535.1.
Article ID : 1019535.1
Article Type : Sun Alerts (SURE)
Last reviewed : 2008-08-27
Audience : PUBLIC
Copyright Notice: Copyright © 2010, Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates.

Covert Channel Security Vulnerability in the Solaris Kernel

Category
Security

Release Phase
Resolved

Bug Id
6696072

Product
Solaris 8 Operating System
Solaris 9 Operating System
Solaris 10 Operating System
OpenSolaris

Date of Resolved Release
27-Aug-2008

Covert Channel Security Vulnerability in the Solaris Kernel:

1. Impact

A security vulnerability with system calls in the Solaris Kernel may allow two unprivileged local user processes to establish a covert communication channel bypassing system restrictions such as the multi-level security policy found in Solaris Trusted Extensions or the isolation policy implemented using zones(5) or chroot(2).

2. Contributing Factors

This issue can occur in the following releases:

SPARC Platform
  • Solaris 8 without patch 117350-56
  • Solaris 9 without patch 122300-30
  • Solaris 10 without patch 137111-05
  • OpenSolaris based upon builds snv_01 through snv_89
x86 Platform
  • Solaris 8 without patch 117351-56
  • Solaris 9 without patch 122301-30
  • Solaris 10 without patch 137112-05
  • OpenSolaris based upon builds snv_01 through snv_89
Note: OpenSolaris distributions may include additional bug fixes above and beyond the build from which it was derived.

To determine the base build of  OpenSolaris, the following command can be used:
    $ uname -v
    snv_94
3. Symptoms

There are no predictable symptoms that would indicate the described issue has been exploited to establish a covert communication channel.

4. Workaround

There is no workaround for this issue. Please see the Resolution section below.

5. Resolution

This issue is resolved in the following releases:

SPARC Platform
  • Solaris 8 with patch 117350-56 or later
  • Solaris 9 with patch 122300-30 or later
  • Solaris 10 with patch 137111-05 or later
  • OpenSolaris based upon builds snv_90 or later
x86 Platform
  • Solaris 8 with patch 117351-56 or later
  • Solaris 9 with patch 122301-30 or later
  • Solaris 10 with patch 137112-05 or later
  • OpenSolaris based upon builds snv_90 or later
For more information on Security Sun Alerts, see 1009886.1.

This Sun Alert notification is being provided to you on an "AS IS" basis. This Sun Alert notification may contain information provided by third parties. The issues described in this Sun Alert notification may or may not impact your system(s). Sun makes no representations, warranties, or guarantees as to the information contained herein. ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT, ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED. BY ACCESSING THIS DOCUMENT YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SUN SHALL IN NO EVENT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES THAT ARISE OUT OF YOUR USE OR FAILURE TO USE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. This Sun Alert notification contains Sun proprietary and confidential information. It is being provided to you pursuant to the provisions of your agreement to purchase services from Sun, or, if you do not have such an agreement, the Sun.com Terms of Use. This Sun Alert notification may only be used for the purposes contemplated by these agreements.

Copyright 2000-2008 Sun Microsystems, Inc., 4150 Network Circle, Santa Clara, CA 95054 U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Modification History
28-Aug-2008: Updated the Resolution section


References
 122300-30

 122301-30

 137111-05

 137112-05

 117350-56

 117351-56



                                



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