# CVE-1999-0028: SGI IRIX privilege escalation via buffer overflow in login/scheme

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0028-sgi-irix-privilege-escalation-via-buffer-overflow-in-login-scheme  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 1997-07-16. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-1999-0028 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.2 · Published 1997-07-16

A security vulnerability in the login/scheme command of SGI IRIX operating systems allows a local user to gain full administrative control of the system. By exploiting a memory handling error, an attacker with basic access can bypass security restrictions to execute commands with root privileges. This could lead to a total compromise of the system, including unauthorized access to all data and the ability to modify or disable system services.

Technologies: [Sgi Irix](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/irix). Vendors: [Sgi](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/sgi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-1999-0028 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-1999-0028 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-1999-0028?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.2, published 16 July 1997.

**Which products and versions are affected?** SGI IRIX.

**Is there a fix for CVE-1999-0028?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-1999-0028 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-1999-0028?** Check whether you run Sgi Irix. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the 'scheme' component of the login utility on SGI IRIX systems. The flaw is triggered by providing specially crafted, overly long input to the login/scheme command, which fails to perform adequate bounds checking. Because this utility typically runs with elevated privileges, a local attacker can exploit the overflow to overwrite memory and redirect execution flow to arbitrary code. Successful exploitation results in a complete privilege escalation from a standard user to the root account.

## Affected products

- SGI IRIX

## Timeline

- 1997-07-16: disclosed

## References

- [https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/CVE-1999-0028](https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/CVE-1999-0028)

## Related threats

- [Vulnerability in (1) diskperf and (2) diskalign in IRIX 6.4 allows local attacker to create arbitrary root owned…](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-1492-vulnerability-in-1-diskperf-and-2-diskalign-in-irix-6-4-allows)
- [Vulnerability in (1) diskalign and (2) diskperf in IRIX 6.4 patches 2291 and 2848 allow a local user to create…](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-1039-vulnerability-in-1-diskalign-and-2-diskperf-in-irix-6-4-patches)
- [SGI IRIX buffer overflow in xterm and Xaw](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0126-sgi-irix-buffer-overflow-in-xterm-and-xaw)
- [SGI IRIX buffer overflow in printers program](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0108-sgi-irix-buffer-overflow-in-printers-program)
- [SGI IRIX command injection in ipxchk and ipxlink](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-1501-sgi-irix-command-injection-in-ipxchk-and-ipxlink)