Sun SunOS 4.0.3/4.1/4.1.1 /bin/mail Local Privilege Escalation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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8.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Sun SunOS 4.0.3/4.1/4.1.1. It has been declared as problematic. Affected is an unknown function of the file /bin/mail. Such manipulation leads to Local Privilege Escalation. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-1999-1438. There is no available exploit. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Sun SunOS 4.0.3/4.1/4.1.1 (Operating System). Affected by this issue is some unknown processing of the file /bin/mail. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a local privilege escalation vulnerability. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

vulnerability in /bin/mail in sunos 4.1.1 and earlier allows local users to gain root privileges via certain command line arguments.

The weakness was presented 02/22/1991 (Website). The advisory is shared for download at cert.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-1999-1438. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack needs to be approached locally. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at SecurityFocus (BID 15†). See VDB-13630, VDB-13629, VDB-13627 and VDB-13625 for similar entries. Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Support

  • end of life (old version)

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 8.0

VulDB Base Score: 8.4
VulDB Temp Score: 8.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Local Privilege Escalation
CWE: Unknown
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

02/22/1991 🔍
02/22/1991 +0 days 🔍
02/22/1991 +0 days 🔍
06/16/2014 +8515 days 🔍
04/03/2025 +3944 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: oracle.com

Advisory: cert.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-1999-1438 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-1999-1438
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-13628
SecurityFocus: 15

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 06/16/2014 15:30
Updated: 04/03/2025 03:37
Changes: 06/16/2014 15:30 (46), 05/17/2018 09:04 (6), 04/03/2025 03:37 (18)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:329:103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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