VDB-13875 · CVE-1999-1298 · FreeBSD-SA-97:03

FreeBSD up to 2.2.1 FTP User improper authentication

CVSS Meta Temp Score CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.	Current Exploit Price (≈) Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.	CTI Interest Score Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
7.0	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in FreeBSD up to 2.2.1. This issue affects some unknown processing of the component FTP User Handler. Performing a manipulation results in improper authentication. This vulnerability is known as CVE-1999-1298. No exploit is available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in FreeBSD up to 2.2.1 (Operating System). It has been classified as critical. This affects an unknown functionality of the component FTP User Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a improper authentication vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-287. When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

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.

The weakness was published 04/07/1997 as FreeBSD-SA-97:03 as confirmed advisory (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at ftp.freebsd.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-1999-1298. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly available.

After immediately, there has been an exploit disclosed.

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (7537), OSVDB (6087†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-23334†). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Operating System

Name

FreeBSD

Version

License

open-source

Website

Product: https://www.freebsd.org/

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.0

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 7.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Improper authentication
CWE: CWE-287
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍
Exploit Delay Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

04/07/1997 🔍
04/07/1997 +0 days 🔍
04/07/1997 +0 days 🔍
04/07/1997 +0 days 🔍
04/09/2004 +2558 days 🔍
08/31/2009 +1970 days 🔍
06/17/2014 +1751 days 🔍
04/16/2026 +4321 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Product: freebsd.org

Advisory: FreeBSD-SA-97:03
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-1999-1298 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-1999-1298
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-13875
X-Force: 7537
OSVDB: 6087 - FreeBSD Sysinstall Anonymous FTP Misconfiguration
Vulnerability Center: 23334 - FreeBSD <= 2.2.1 Sysinstall FTP Anonymous Configuration Unauthorized Access Vulnerability, High

Entryinfo

Created: 06/18/2014 01:16
Updated: 04/16/2026 17:41
Changes: 06/18/2014 01:16 (52), 02/13/2017 10:33 (8), 04/16/2026 17:41 (17)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.