CVE-2005-2072

Solaris 8-10 - Privilege Escalation via LD_AUDIT Environment Variable

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 2 public exploits for CVE-2005-2072. PoCs published by Przemyslaw Frasunek.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages the LD_AUDIT environment variable to load a malicious shared library, executing shellcode that spawns a root shell via setuid() and execve() on Solaris 9 SPARC systems.

Description

The runtime linker (ld.so) in Solaris 8, 9, and 10 trusts the LD_AUDIT environment variable in setuid or setgid programs, which allows local users to gain privileges by (1) modifying LD_AUDIT to reference malicious code and possibly (2) using a long value for LD_AUDIT.

Exploits (2)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Przemyslaw Frasunek · clocalsolaris
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/1074

This exploit leverages the LD_AUDIT environment variable to load a malicious shared library, executing shellcode that spawns a root shell via setuid() and execve() on Solaris 9 SPARC systems.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Solaris 9 SPARC
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to a Solaris 9 SPARC system · Ability to set environment variables
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Przemyslaw Frasunek · clocalsolaris
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/1073

This exploit leverages the LD_AUDIT environment variable to load a shared library containing shellcode, achieving local privilege escalation on vulnerable Solaris systems. The shellcode spawns a root shell when executed.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: SunOS 5.10, SunOS 5.9
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to a vulnerable Solaris system · Ability to set environment variables
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (9)

Core 9
Core References
Mailing List mailing-list x_refsource_fulldisc
http://lists.grok.org.uk/pipermail/full-disclosure/2005-June/034738.html
Vendor Advisory vdb-entry x_refsource_vupen
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2005/0908
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_sunalert
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-101794-1
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_sectrack
http://securitytracker.com/id?1014537
Vendor Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/15841
Exploit vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/14074

Scores

EPSS 0.0100
EPSS Percentile 58.2%

Details

CWE
CWE-264
Status published
Products (4)
sun/solaris 8.0
sun/solaris 9.0 (2 CPE variants)
sun/solaris 10.0
sun/sunos 5.8
Published Jun 29, 2005
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026