# CVE-1999-0043: ISC InterNetNews innd command injection via control messages

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0043-isc-internetnews-innd-command-injection-via-control-messages  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 1996-12-04. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-1999-0043 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.8 · Published 1996-12-04

A critical vulnerability exists in the InterNetNews (INN) daemon, a service used to manage Usenet news feeds. By sending specially crafted control messages, an attacker can execute unauthorized commands on the server. This could lead to a complete system takeover, data theft, or disruption of news services.

Technologies: [Isc InterNetNews](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/internetnews). Vendors: [Isc](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/isc).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-1999-0043 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-1999-0043 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-1999-0043?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 4 December 1996.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Isc InterNetNews 1.5.

**Is there a fix for CVE-1999-0043?** 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-1999-0043 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a hosted service.

**Am I affected by CVE-1999-0043?** Check whether you run Isc InterNetNews at an affected version. 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

The InterNetNews (INN) daemon (innd) version 1.5 is vulnerable to OS command injection (CWE-78). The vulnerability exists because the daemon fails to properly neutralize shell metacharacters in administrative control messages such as 'newgroup' and 'rmgroup'. A remote, unauthenticated attacker can exploit this by sending malicious control messages over the network, leading to arbitrary command execution with the privileges of the innd process. This allows for full system compromise without requiring user interaction.

## Affected products

- ISC InterNetNews (INN) daemon (innd) 1.5

## Timeline

- 1996-12-04: disclosed

## References

- [https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/CVE-1999-0043](https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/CVE-1999-0043)

## Related threats

- [ISC InterNetNews buffer overflow in nnrpd](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0247-isc-internetnews-buffer-overflow-in-nnrpd)
- [ISC INN and ucbmail command injection via shell metacharacters](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0868-isc-inn-and-ucbmail-command-injection-via-shell-metacharacters)