Debian Linux 2.1 ht:/dig Metacharacter privileges management

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Debian Linux 2.1. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the component ht:/dig Handler. Performing a manipulation as part of Metacharacter results in privileges management. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-1999-0978. Additionally, an exploit exists. This vulnerability is considered historic because of its background and reception. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Debian Linux 2.1 (Operating System). This affects an unknown functionality of the component ht:/dig Handler. The manipulation as part of a Metacharacter leads to a privileges management vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as 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. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

htdig allows remote attackers to execute commands via filenames with shell metacharacters.

The weakness was released 12/09/1999 by FIRST with Debian (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at securityfocus.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-1999-0978. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. Technical details are unknown but an exploit is available. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/21/2025). The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1068 according to MITRE ATT&CK. Due to its background and reception, this vulnerability has a historic impact.

It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 10105 (ht://Dig < 3.1.5 htsearch CGI Multiple Vulnerabilities), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family CGI abuses and running in the context r. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 10540 (ht://dig Remote Command Execution Vulnerability).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (3707), Tenable (10105), SecurityFocus (BID 867†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-3304†). Entry connected to this vulnerability is available at VDB-15363. Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

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Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.6

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.6
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: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Proof-of-Concept

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 10105
Nessus Name: ht://Dig < 3.1.5 htsearch CGI Multiple Vulnerabilities
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

12/09/1999 🔍
12/09/1999 +0 days 🔍
12/09/1999 +0 days 🔍
12/09/1999 +0 days 🔍
03/03/2000 +85 days 🔍
12/29/2003 +1396 days 🔍
06/22/2014 +3828 days 🔍
10/21/2025 +4139 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: debian.org

Advisory: securityfocus.com⛔
Researcher: FIRST
Organization: Debian
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-1999-0978 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-1999-0978
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-15051
X-Force: 3707
SecurityFocus: 867 - ht://dig Remote Command Execution Vulnerability
Vulnerability Center: 3304 - Htdig Allows Command Execution, High

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 06/22/2014 15:52
Updated: 10/21/2025 04:12
Changes: 06/22/2014 15:52 (66), 05/18/2019 21:35 (5), 10/21/2025 04:12 (20)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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