# CVE-1999-0233: Microsoft IIS arbitrary command execution via .bat and .cmd files

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0233-microsoft-iis-arbitrary-command-execution-via-bat-and-cmd-files  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 1996-02-25. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-1999-0233 · Severity: critical · CVSS 10 · Published 1996-02-25

Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 1.0, a web server used to host websites, contains a critical flaw that allows remote users to run unauthorized commands on the server. By using specific file types like .bat or .cmd, an attacker could gain full control over the web server, potentially leading to the theft of sensitive data, website defacement, or a complete shutdown of services. This vulnerability poses a severe risk to the integrity and availability of the affected system.

Technologies: [Microsoft Internet Information Services](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/internet-information-services). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-1999-0233 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-1999-0233 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-1999-0233?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 10, published 25 February 1996.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 1.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-1999-0233?** 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-1999-0233 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a hosted service.

**Am I affected by CVE-1999-0233?** Check whether you run Microsoft Internet Information Services. 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

Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 1.0 fails to properly restrict or sanitize requests for executable script files. An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit this by submitting requests for .bat or .cmd files, which the server then executes with high privileges. This vulnerability is a form of command injection/arbitrary command execution. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to execute any command on the underlying operating system with the permissions of the web server process, typically leading to full system compromise. Microsoft has historically addressed this through security updates and configuration changes to script mappings.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 1.0

## Timeline

- 1996-02-25: disclosed: Initial publication date.

## References

- [http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3B%5BLN%5D%3BQ148188](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3B%5BLN%5D%3BQ148188)
- [http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3B%5BLN%5D%3BQ155056](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3B%5BLN%5D%3BQ155056)

## Related threats

- [Windows Internet Information Services denial of service](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-119909-uncontrolled-resource-consumption-in-windows-internet)
- [Microsoft Windows Web Servers access bypass via long filenames](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0012-microsoft-windows-web-servers-access-bypass-via-long-filenames)
- [Microsoft IIS file overwrite in newdsn.exe CGI script](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0191-microsoft-iis-file-overwrite-in-newdsn-exe-cgi-script)
- [Microsoft IIS denial of service via long URLs](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0281-microsoft-iis-denial-of-service-via-long-urls)
- [Microsoft IIS source code disclosure via URL encoding](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0253-microsoft-iis-source-code-disclosure-via-url-encoding)