Eric Allman Sendmail 8.8/8.8.1/8.8.2/8.8.3 Forward File privileges management

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.7$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Eric Allman Sendmail 8.8/8.8.1/8.8.2/8.8.3. It has been classified as problematic. This impacts an unknown function of the component Forward File Handler. The manipulation leads to privileges management. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-1999-0129. There is not any exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in Eric Allman Sendmail 8.8/8.8.1/8.8.2/8.8.3 (Mail Server Software). This issue affects an unknown code block of the component Forward File Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a privileges management vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-269. The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

sendmail allows local users to write to a file and gain group permissions via a .forward or :include: file.

The issue has been introduced in 09/26/1996. The weakness was released 12/03/1996. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-1999-0129. The exploitation is known to be easy. An attack has to be approached locally. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available. MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1068 for this issue.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 67 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $5k-$25k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 11349 (Sendmail < 8.8.4 Group Write File Hardlink Privilege Escalation), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family SMTP problems. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 74117 (Berkeley Sendmail Group Permissions Vulnerability).

Upgrading to version 8.8.4 eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published before and not just after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (213), Tenable (11349), SecurityFocus (BID 715†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-670†). Entry connected to this vulnerability is available at VDB-13785. If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.7

VulDB Base Score: 5.9
VulDB Temp Score: 5.7
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: Privileges management
CWE: CWE-269 / CWE-266
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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Nessus ID: 11349
Nessus Name: Sendmail < 8.8.4 Group Write File Hardlink Privilege Escalation
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 11349
OpenVAS Name: Sendmail Group Permissions Vulnerability
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Sendmail 8.8.4

Timelineinfo

09/26/1996 🔍
12/02/1996 +67 days 🔍
12/03/1996 +1 days 🔍
12/03/1996 +0 days 🔍
12/03/1996 +0 days 🔍
01/21/2003 +2240 days 🔍
03/11/2003 +49 days 🔍
06/17/2014 +4116 days 🔍
10/27/2025 +4150 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-1999-0129 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-1999-0129
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-13781
X-Force: 213
SecurityFocus: 715
Vulnerability Center: 670 - Berkeley Sendmail Allows Local Users to Gain Group Permissions, Low

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 06/17/2014 17:45
Updated: 10/27/2025 10:37
Changes: 06/17/2014 17:45 (61), 07/03/2017 09:12 (7), 06/23/2021 02:36 (3), 10/27/2025 10:37 (18)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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