CVE-1999-0582 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
A Windows NT account policy has inappropriate, security-critical settings for lockout, e.g. lockout duration, lockout after bad logon attempts, etc.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2026
This vulnerability relates to insecure default configurations in Windows nt operating systems where account lockout policies are improperly set, creating significant security risks for authentication systems. The flaw exists in the default account policy settings that govern how the system handles failed login attempts and subsequent account lockout mechanisms. These security-critical parameters include the number of failed attempts before lockout, the duration of lockout periods, and the reset mechanisms for locked accounts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from Microsoft's default security configuration where the account lockout threshold is set too high or the lockout duration is insufficient to prevent automated brute force attacks. This misconfiguration allows malicious actors to perform repeated authentication attempts without triggering effective account lockout mechanisms, thereby enabling credential stuffing and brute force attacks against user accounts. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the system policy level rather than requiring exploitation of specific software flaws, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations using windows nt systems where attackers can systematically guess passwords without fear of account lockout interference. The default settings typically allow unlimited failed attempts before lockout, or lockout periods that are too brief to prevent automated attack campaigns. This weakness directly undermines the principle of least privilege and provides attackers with extended opportunities to compromise user accounts through dictionary attacks, credential reuse, or password spraying techniques.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-1004 which addresses insecure default settings and CWE-307 which covers inadequate account lockout mechanisms. It also maps to ATT&CK technique T1110.003 for credential stuffing and T1110.001 for password guessing, demonstrating how insecure default account policies enable these attack vectors. Organizations with affected systems may experience unauthorized access to user accounts, potential privilege escalation opportunities, and increased risk of lateral movement within networks.
Effective mitigations include implementing custom account policies that enforce strict lockout thresholds such as limiting failed attempts to three or fewer before lockout, setting appropriate lockout durations of at least 30 minutes, and ensuring automatic account unlock mechanisms are properly configured. System administrators should disable unnecessary accounts, implement account lockout notifications, and monitor for suspicious authentication patterns. Additionally, organizations should deploy multi-factor authentication solutions and consider implementing intrusion detection systems to identify and respond to automated credential guessing attempts. Regular security audits and policy reviews are essential to maintain effective account protection mechanisms beyond the default insecure configurations.