CVE-2019-3010
Oracle Solaris Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2019-3010 is a privilege escalation vulnerability in the XScreenSaver component of Oracle Solaris. This unspecified vulnerability allows a local attacker with low-level access to escalate their privileges on the affected system. The flaw exists in the way Oracle Solaris handles the XScreenSaver component, enabling unauthorized elevation from a standard user account to higher-privilege access. CISA has listed CVE-2019-3010 in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild, and its EPSS percentile of 97.7% indicates a very high likelihood of exploitation activity.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| oracle | solaris | 11 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154960/Solaris-xscreensaver-Privilege-Escalation.html(Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Oct/39(Mailing List, Third Party Advisory)
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2019-5072832.html(Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2019-3010(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
No specific CWE has been assigned to CVE-2019-3010 in the NVD database. The vulnerability is described as an unspecified flaw in the XScreenSaver component of Oracle Solaris that enables privilege escalation. The underlying weakness likely relates to improper access control or insufficient privilege separation within the screen saver component, allowing a local user to elevate their permissions beyond what is intended.
Learn more: CWE Overview
Impact Analysis
CVE-2019-3010 enables local privilege escalation on Oracle Solaris systems through the XScreenSaver component. While the attack requires local access to the target system, the complexity of exploitation is low and only minimal privileges are needed to trigger the vulnerability. Confidentiality is impacted because elevated privileges give the attacker access to sensitive system data, configuration files, and potentially other users' information that would normally be restricted. Integrity is compromised as a privileged attacker can modify system files, install persistent backdoors, and alter security configurations. Availability may be affected if the attacker uses elevated privileges to disrupt services or system operation. With an EPSS percentile of 97.7%, this vulnerability has a high probability of being actively exploited, particularly in environments where Oracle Solaris systems are accessible to multiple users or are part of shared infrastructure.
Exploit Maturity
CISA has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2019-3010 in the wild by listing it in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a remediation deadline of June 15, 2022. The EPSS percentile of 97.7% indicates a very high likelihood of exploitation activity. As a local privilege escalation vulnerability, CVE-2019-3010 is commonly used as part of multi-stage attack chains where an attacker first gains initial access through another vulnerability or compromised credentials, then uses this XScreenSaver flaw to escalate to root-level privileges on Oracle Solaris systems.
Remediation
- Apply Oracle Critical Patch Updates that address CVE-2019-3010 per vendor instructions, as required by the CISA KEV catalog. Oracle has released patches through their quarterly Critical Patch Update program.
- Restrict local access to Oracle Solaris systems to only authorized and necessary users. Implement strict user account management policies and regularly audit local user accounts for unnecessary access.
- Disable or restrict XScreenSaver if it is not required in your environment. On server systems where screen savers serve no purpose, disabling the component removes the attack surface entirely.
- Monitor for privilege escalation activity on Oracle Solaris systems by reviewing authentication logs, sudo logs, and system audit trails for unauthorized privilege changes or suspicious local activity.
- Implement defense-in-depth controls including mandatory access control frameworks (such as Solaris RBAC or Trusted Extensions), minimal user privileges, and host-based intrusion detection to detect and prevent unauthorized privilege escalation.
Technical Details
CVE-2019-3010 is a privilege escalation vulnerability in the XScreenSaver component of Oracle Solaris. The specific technical details of the vulnerability mechanism have not been fully disclosed by Oracle, as it is classified as an unspecified vulnerability. The attack vector is local, meaning an attacker must already have some level of access to the target Solaris system. The attack complexity is low and requires only low-level user privileges, with no user interaction needed. The XScreenSaver component runs with elevated privileges in certain contexts on Solaris systems, and the vulnerability allows a local attacker to exploit this privilege boundary to gain unauthorized elevated access. This type of screen saver privilege escalation vulnerability is particularly relevant in multi-user Solaris environments, shared computing infrastructure, and systems where initial access may have been gained through other means.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2019-3010 being actively exploited?
Yes, CVE-2019-3010 has been confirmed as actively exploited. CISA included it in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of June 15, 2022. The EPSS percentile of 97.7% further confirms a very high probability of exploitation activity.
What products are affected by CVE-2019-3010?
CVE-2019-3010 affects Oracle Solaris through the XScreenSaver component. Organizations running Oracle Solaris systems should consult Oracle's Critical Patch Update advisories for specific affected versions and available patches.
How do I fix CVE-2019-3010?
Apply Oracle Critical Patch Updates that address this vulnerability. As an interim mitigation, consider disabling XScreenSaver on systems where it is not needed, particularly servers. Restrict local access to Solaris systems to only essential users and implement strong access control policies.
How severe is CVE-2019-3010?
CVE-2019-3010 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability with an EPSS percentile of 97.7%, indicating a very high probability of active exploitation. While it requires local access, the low attack complexity and low privilege requirements make it readily exploitable by any user with basic access to an Oracle Solaris system.
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