CVE-1999-1298 in FreeBSD
Summary
by MITRE
Sysinstall in FreeBSD 2.2.1 and earlier, when configuring anonymous FTP, creates the ftp user without a password and with /bin/date as the shell, which could allow attackers to gain access to certain system resources.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-1999-1298 represents a critical security flaw in the FreeBSD operating system's sysinstall utility version 2.2.1 and earlier. This issue specifically manifests during the configuration of anonymous ftp services, where the system creates a dedicated ftp user account with severe security implications. The flaw stems from improper user account creation procedures within the installation process, creating a significant attack vector for malicious actors seeking unauthorized system access. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the foundational system configuration tools that administrators rely upon for establishing secure network services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the sysinstall utility's handling of user account creation for anonymous ftp services. When the utility configures anonymous ftp access, it generates the ftp user account with two critical flaws: no password is assigned to the account and the shell is set to /bin/date instead of a proper shell like /bin/false or /usr/sbin/nologin. The absence of a password creates a direct authentication bypass mechanism, while the /bin/date shell provides an interactive environment that attackers can exploit to gain system access. This configuration allows any local or remote attacker to log into the system using the ftp user account without authentication requirements, effectively creating an open door for privilege escalation and system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-1999-1298 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass broader system security implications. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can potentially access system resources, modify files, execute commands, and establish persistent access to the compromised FreeBSD system. The vulnerability particularly affects systems that rely on anonymous ftp services for file sharing, making it a significant concern for organizations maintaining public file servers or network infrastructure. The flaw essentially undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the system's user management and authentication mechanisms, creating a backdoor that persists until manually corrected by system administrators.
The vulnerability aligns with several common weakness enumerations including CWE-255, which addresses issues related to credentials management, and CWE-787, concerning out-of-bounds write operations that can occur when improper system configurations allow unexpected shell execution. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering through compromised system accounts. The weakness demonstrates poor secure coding practices in system administration tools, where proper input validation and secure default configurations should have been implemented to prevent such dangerous account creation patterns. Organizations implementing FreeBSD systems during this era would have been particularly vulnerable, as the flaw existed in widely distributed system installation tools that were often used without careful security review.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-1999-1298 require immediate administrative action to address the compromised ftp user account. System administrators must manually verify and correct the ftp user configuration by setting a proper password, changing the shell to /bin/false or /usr/sbin/nologin, or removing the account entirely if anonymous ftp services are not required. The recommended approach involves thorough system auditing to identify all instances of the vulnerable configuration and implementing proper access controls for ftp services. Additionally, organizations should consider upgrading to newer versions of FreeBSD that address this vulnerability, as version 2.2.2 and later included fixes for the sysinstall utility's user account creation process. Regular security assessments and automated configuration management tools should be implemented to prevent similar issues from occurring in future system deployments. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of secure default configurations and proper system hardening practices in network infrastructure management.