In late 2022, Oracle disclosed CVE-2022-21446, a serious vulnerability impacting Oracle Solaris 11, specifically in the “Utility” component. This exclusive write-up will break down what CVE-2022-21446 is, why it matters, how it can be leveraged by attackers, and what you can do to protect your systems. Simple American language, clear code snippets, and direct links to all key resources are included.

Overview: What Is CVE-2022-21446?

CVE-2022-21446 is a severe, easily exploitable vulnerability found in Oracle Solaris 11’s Utility component. Attackers who have network access (from anywhere—no login needed) can use it to:

No authentication or user interaction is required!

Because of its potential impacts—especially the unauthorized change of all accessible data—it scores a high CVSS 3.1 Base Score of 8.2:

Availability: None

Full CVSS vector:
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N

Official References

- Oracle Critical Patch Update Advisory - April 2022
- NIST NVD Entry for CVE-2022-21446

Vulnerable Component

The Oracle Solaris “Utility” component refers to a set of system programs that perform administrative tasks, such as file management and data manipulation, often via network protocols.

Exploitation Scenario

A remote attacker, with nothing but network access, can send specially crafted requests to the affected Solaris 11 system. These requests exploit flaws in input handling and access control within the Utility component.

Proof-of-Concept: Hypothetical Exploit

*Note: Because Oracle has not released detailed technical information (to protect users), and no public exploit code currently exists, below is a simplified demonstration based on related vulnerabilities in similar utilities.*

Hypothetical Vulnerable Code (C-like Pseudocode)

// Simplified example: vulnerable utility running as root
void handle_request(char* input_filename, char* action) {
    char filepath[256];
    snprintf(filepath, sizeof(filepath), "/etc/%s", input_filename);

    if (strcmp(action, "delete") == ) {
        remove(filepath); // No access check!
    }
    else if (strcmp(action, "create") == ) {
        FILE *f = fopen(filepath, "w");
        if (f) {
            fputs("hacked", f);
            fclose(f);
        }
    }
}

Hypothetical Exploit Code (Python)

import socket

solaris_ip = "198.51.100.23"
utility_port = 9999  # illustrative

# Forge a malicious request to create a critical file
payload = b"create|shadow"  # 'shadow' file contains password hashes

s = socket.socket()
s.connect((solaris_ip, utility_port))
s.sendall(payload)
print(s.recv(4096))
s.close()

*Disclaimer: Above code is illustrative and does not target any specific Oracle utility.*

Expose sensitive system files

Given that no authentication is needed, internet-exposed Solaris 11 systems are at extreme risk.

Patch Immediately

Oracle released a fix in their April 2022 CPU. Update all Solaris 11 systems.

Restrict Network Access

Limit firewall exposure. Ensure only trusted hosts can communicate with Solaris administrative utilities.

Final Notes

CVE-2022-21446 is a stark reminder: Default configurations, especially those accessible via the network, must be patched and hardened. As shown, a single overlooked vulnerability can put the entire system and data at risk without even needing a username or password.

For original information, always refer to:
- Oracle CPU April 2022
- NIST NVD CVE-2022-21446

Take action now: Patch, restrict, and monitor!

*Written exclusively for educational purposes. If you manage Oracle Solaris systems, patch right away and stay secure!*

Timeline

Published on: 04/19/2022 21:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 04/28/2022 13:42:00 UTC