CVE-1999-0029: SGI IRIX root privilege escalation in ordist command

CVE-1999-0029 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.4 · Published 1997-07-16

A security vulnerability exists in the ordist command on SGI IRIX operating systems. This flaw allows a local user to gain full administrative (root) control over the system. An attacker with basic access to the machine could exploit this to bypass security restrictions, access sensitive data, or disrupt operations.

Technologies: Sgi Irix. Vendors: Sgi.

Quick answers

Is CVE-1999-0029 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-1999-0029 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-1999-0029?
High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.4, published 16 July 1997.
Which products and versions are affected?
SGI IRIX.
Is there a fix for CVE-1999-0029?
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-1999-0029 attacked?
It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.
Am I affected by CVE-1999-0029?
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 'ordist' command, a utility found in SGI IRIX systems. The flaw is triggered when the command handles specially crafted input, leading to memory corruption. A local, unprivileged attacker can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. Successful exploitation results in a complete compromise of the host system by granting the attacker root access. The vulnerability is categorized as an out-of-bounds memory safety issue.

Affected products

  • SGI IRIX

Timeline

  • 1997-07-16: disclosed: Initial publication date

References

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