CVE-1999-1073 in EWS
Summary
by MITRE
Excite for Web Servers (EWS) 1.1 records the first two characters of a plaintext password in the beginning of the encrypted password, which makes it easier for an attacker to guess passwords via a brute force or dictionary attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-1999-1073 affects Excite for Web Servers version 1.1, representing a significant weakness in password security implementation that directly impacts authentication systems. This flaw stems from the server's improper handling of password encryption processes, where the system stores the initial two characters of plaintext passwords within the encrypted password structure itself. The vulnerability creates a predictable pattern that undermines the fundamental security assumptions of password protection mechanisms and exposes systems to various forms of automated attacks.
The technical implementation flaw resides in the encryption algorithm's design where the first two characters of the original password are preserved and embedded within the encrypted password output. This design decision fundamentally weakens the cryptographic strength of the password protection scheme by creating a deterministic component that can be exploited by attackers. The vulnerability specifically relates to CWE-326, which addresses the improper implementation of cryptographic mechanisms, and more broadly aligns with CWE-259, concerning the use of hard-coded passwords or weak cryptographic practices. The flaw essentially provides attackers with partial information about the password structure, reducing the effective entropy of the password and making successful guessing significantly more probable.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a substantial risk for systems running Excite for Web Servers 1.1, as it dramatically reduces the computational effort required to perform successful brute force or dictionary attacks. Attackers can leverage the preserved initial characters to significantly narrow down password possibilities, potentially reducing attack time from years to hours or even minutes depending on the password complexity. The vulnerability affects authentication security and can lead to unauthorized system access, data breaches, and privilege escalation scenarios that compromise the overall security posture of affected systems. This weakness particularly impacts environments where password strength is not adequately enforced and where the server configuration does not implement additional security measures to compensate for the cryptographic flaw.
The security implications extend beyond immediate unauthorized access to include potential chain reactions in compromised environments where attackers can use the gained access to escalate privileges, move laterally within networks, or establish persistence mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK tactics including credential access and privilege escalation, where attackers can leverage the weak password encryption to obtain valid credentials for system access. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of the software, implementing additional authentication controls, and enforcing stronger password policies that compensate for the cryptographic weakness. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper cryptographic implementation practices and serves as a reminder of the critical need for thorough security testing of authentication mechanisms before deployment. System administrators should conduct comprehensive security assessments of all web server implementations to identify similar weaknesses in password handling and encryption practices that could expose their environments to similar threats.