CVE-1999-0408 in Cobalt Raq
Summary
by MITRE
Files created from interactive shell sessions in Cobalt RaQ microservers (e.g. .bash_history) are world readable, and thus are accessible from the web server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-1999-0408 represents a critical misconfiguration issue within Cobalt RaQ microservers that exposes sensitive session data through improper file permissions. This flaw stems from the default configuration of interactive shell environments where user session files such as .bash_history are created with world-readable permissions, allowing any user or process to access these files through web server access. The vulnerability specifically affects the security posture of these microservers by creating an information disclosure channel that can be exploited by attackers to gain insights into user activities and potentially identify system access patterns. The root cause lies in the failure to properly secure shell session artifacts, which are typically created in user home directories and accessible through web server contexts. This misconfiguration creates a direct pathway for attackers to extract potentially sensitive information from shell history files that may contain command sequences, file paths, or other operational details that could aid in further exploitation attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the interaction between shell session management and web server file access controls. When users interact with shell sessions on Cobalt RaQ systems, the system creates various session files including .bash_history that contain command execution history. These files are typically created with default permissions that do not restrict access to all users on the system. The web server component of the RaQ system can then serve these files through HTTP requests, effectively exposing the shell session data to external parties. This creates a scenario where information disclosure occurs through the web server interface, making it accessible to anyone who can make HTTP requests to the server. The vulnerability is classified as a permissions misconfiguration issue that violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper file access control. From a cybersecurity perspective, this represents a classic case of insecure file permissions that can be categorized under CWE-732, which deals with Incorrect Permissions for Critical Resources, and CWE-276, which addresses Incorrect Default Permissions. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that shell history files often contain sensitive information about system administration activities, command sequences, and potentially even credentials or file paths that could be used for privilege escalation or lateral movement.
The operational impact of CVE-1999-0408 extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks through reconnaissance and exploitation. Attackers can leverage the exposed shell history files to gather intelligence about system usage patterns, identify potentially vulnerable services or applications that users interact with regularly, and discover command sequences that might reveal system architecture or security configurations. The vulnerability can also facilitate credential harvesting if users have executed commands containing passwords or other authentication tokens in their shell sessions. Additionally, the presence of this vulnerability can indicate broader configuration management issues within the system, suggesting that other security controls may also be improperly configured. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1083, which deals with File and Directory Discovery, and T1005, which addresses Data from Local System. The exposure of shell history files can also contribute to privilege escalation attempts by providing attackers with information about system administration commands and potentially sensitive operational procedures. Organizations using Cobalt RaQ systems may find their security posture significantly weakened by this vulnerability, as it provides an easily accessible information source that can be exploited without requiring advanced technical skills or significant resources.
The recommended mitigations for CVE-1999-0408 focus on proper file access control implementation and system configuration hardening. The primary solution involves changing the default permissions of shell session files to restrict access to the owning user only, typically through setting appropriate umask values or explicitly configuring file permissions to 600 or 640. System administrators should ensure that files in user home directories, particularly those related to shell sessions, are not world-readable. Additionally, web server configurations should be reviewed to ensure that directory browsing is disabled and that access to user home directories is properly restricted. The implementation of proper access control lists and file permission management should be part of routine system hardening procedures. Organizations should also implement regular security audits to identify and remediate similar misconfigurations across their infrastructure. This vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive security awareness and proper system administration practices, as it demonstrates how seemingly minor configuration issues can create significant security risks. Regular monitoring and automated scanning for similar permission misconfigurations should be implemented as part of the overall security management framework to prevent similar issues from occurring in other system components.