CVE-1999-1027 in Solaris
Summary
by MITRE
Solaris 2.6 HW3/98 installs admintool with world-writable permissions, which allows local users to gain privileges by replacing it with a Trojan horse program.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-1999-1027 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw in Solaris 2.6 operating system releases. This issue stems from improper file permission settings during the installation process of the admintool utility, which was designed to provide administrative functionality within the Solaris environment. The flaw specifically manifests when the admintool binary is installed with world-writable permissions, creating a persistent security weakness that can be exploited by local attackers to elevate their privileges.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-732, which addresses improper authorization in the context of file permissions. When admintool is installed with world-writable permissions, any local user can modify or replace the binary with malicious code. This occurs because the system fails to properly enforce access controls during the installation phase, allowing unauthorized modification of system binaries that are typically restricted to administrative users only. The flaw exists at the file system level where permission settings are incorrectly configured during package installation, creating a persistent backdoor mechanism.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables local users to achieve privilege escalation from standard user level to administrative privileges, effectively bypassing the operating system's security model. The exploitation process is straightforward and requires minimal technical expertise, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where multiple users have legitimate access to the system. Once the malicious Trojan horse program replaces the legitimate admintool binary, any user who executes the tool can gain elevated privileges, potentially allowing them to modify system files, install additional malware, or establish persistent access to the compromised system.
The attack vector for this vulnerability follows the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, specifically leveraging the "Modify Existing Service" and "Create or Modify System Process" tactics. Attackers can exploit this by simply replacing the admintool binary with a modified version that executes their payload before or after the legitimate functionality. The vulnerability also maps to the "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" technique within ATT&CK, as it directly enables unauthorized users to gain administrative rights through the modification of a system utility. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly and remains undetected unless specific monitoring mechanisms are in place.
Effective mitigation strategies for CVE-1999-1027 should include immediate permission correction to ensure admintool is installed with proper ownership and restricted permissions. System administrators should verify that the admintool binary has appropriate file permissions, typically requiring root ownership with read/write permissions only for the owner. The recommended fix involves reinstalling the package with correct permissions or manually adjusting the file permissions to prevent world-writable access. Additionally, implementing file integrity monitoring systems can help detect unauthorized modifications to critical system binaries. Regular security audits should verify that system utilities are properly configured and that no world-writable binaries exist in critical system directories. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management processes to ensure timely remediation of such vulnerabilities and maintain system integrity through proper access control enforcement.