CVE-1999-1300 in UNICOS
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in accton in Cray UNICOS 6.1 and 6.0 allows local users to read arbitrary files and modify system accounting configuration.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-1999-1300 resides within the accton component of Cray UNICOS operating systems version 6.1 and 6.0, representing a critical security flaw that enables local users to escalate their privileges through unauthorized file access and system configuration manipulation. This issue fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the system by allowing attackers with local access to bypass normal security controls and gain access to sensitive data that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. The accton utility, which manages system accounting and resource usage tracking, contains a flaw that permits unauthorized file reading and configuration modification operations, creating a pathway for privilege escalation and potential data exfiltration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the accton utility. When local users execute commands through this component, the system fails to properly verify the legitimacy of file access requests or configuration modification attempts, allowing them to specify arbitrary file paths and manipulate system accounting parameters. This flaw operates at the kernel level or system utility layer, where proper privilege separation should prevent local users from accessing files outside their designated scope or altering critical system configuration settings. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access control issues, specifically targeting weaknesses in access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized users to manipulate system resources.
The operational impact of CVE-1999-1300 extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it provides attackers with the capability to modify system accounting configurations that track user activities, resource consumption, and system performance metrics. This modification capability can be leveraged to cover malicious activities, manipulate audit trails, and potentially disrupt system operations by altering resource allocation parameters or disabling important monitoring functions. Local users could exploit this vulnerability to read sensitive system files containing passwords, configuration data, or other confidential information, while simultaneously being able to modify accounting parameters that could affect system stability and security monitoring capabilities. The flaw represents a significant threat to system integrity and can be exploited to create persistent access points or to interfere with system auditing processes.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system hardening measures including comprehensive access control policy enforcement, regular system auditing, and implementation of proper privilege separation mechanisms. System administrators should ensure that only authorized personnel have access to system accounting utilities and that proper file permissions are enforced to prevent unauthorized file access. The recommended approach involves implementing least privilege principles where local users cannot perform system-level configuration modifications or access restricted files without appropriate authorization. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in system utilities and ensure that access controls are properly enforced. Organizations should also implement proper logging and monitoring of system accounting activities to detect unauthorized access attempts or configuration modifications that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation and the potential risks associated with inadequate privilege management in high-performance computing environments.