CVE-1999-0151 in Security Scanner
Summary
by MITRE
The SATAN session key may be disclosed if the user points the web browser to other sites, possibly allowing root access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-1999-0151 pertains to a critical security flaw in the SATAN network security scanner software that was widely used in the late 1990s for identifying system vulnerabilities. This weakness specifically relates to how SATAN handled session keys during web-based interactions, creating a significant vector for unauthorized access to compromised systems. The vulnerability operates through a cross-site scripting mechanism that allows malicious web content to potentially extract sensitive session information from the SATAN application's memory or communication channels.
The technical flaw manifests when users navigate their web browsers to external websites while SATAN is actively running, particularly during network scanning operations. This behavior creates an unintended information disclosure channel where session keys used by SATAN for authentication and communication purposes can be exposed to remote attackers. The vulnerability essentially represents a form of session management failure that violates fundamental security principles of isolation and confidentiality. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which deals with exposure of sensitive information, and CWE-352, which covers cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities. The flaw exploits the trust relationship between the SATAN application and web browsers, allowing attackers to leverage the browser's ability to load external content to extract authentication tokens or session identifiers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for systems running vulnerable versions of SATAN. When an attacker successfully exploits this weakness, they may gain root-level access to the compromised systems, as the disclosed session keys could provide sufficient privileges to bypass authentication mechanisms entirely. This represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that transforms a network scanning tool into a potential attack vector rather than a defensive mechanism. The risk is particularly high because SATAN was often deployed in environments where it would have elevated privileges and access to critical system resources. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to maintain persistent access to networks, escalate privileges beyond what was intended, and potentially compromise entire network infrastructures. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts and T1566, which covers credential harvesting through social engineering or application exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by the vendor, as well as operational changes to how SATAN is deployed and used. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate SATAN operations from general web browsing activities, employ strict browser security policies that prevent external content loading during security scanning operations, and consider using dedicated scanning environments that are isolated from general network access. Additionally, administrators should implement monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate session key disclosure attempts, and establish proper access controls to limit who can execute SATAN scans. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure session management practices and demonstrates how seemingly innocuous web browsing behavior can create significant security risks when combined with inadequate application security controls. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other network security tools and applications, as this vulnerability represents a common pattern of insufficient isolation between different security contexts within applications.