# CVE-1999-0256: War FTP buffer overflow allows remote command execution

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0256-war-ftp-buffer-overflow-allows-remote-command-execution  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 1998-02-01. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-1999-0256 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.5 · Published 1998-02-01

War FTP is a software application used to host file transfer services, allowing users to upload and download files over a network. A critical security flaw in this software allows a remote attacker to take control of the server by sending specially crafted data. This could result in the theft of sensitive files, unauthorized modification of data, or a complete shutdown of the file transfer service.

Technologies: [Microsoft Windows 95](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/windows-95), [Microsoft Windows Nt](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/windows-nt). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-1999-0256 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-1999-0256 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-1999-0256?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 1 February 1998.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Jgaa War FTP Daemon.

**Is there a fix for CVE-1999-0256?** 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-1999-0256 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-1999-0256?** Check whether you run Jgaa War FTP Daemon, Jgaa Warftpd, Microsoft Windows 95 or one of the others listed. 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 classic buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the War FTP daemon. The flaw is triggered when the application fails to properly validate the length of input data before copying it into a fixed-size memory buffer. A remote, unauthenticated attacker can exploit this by sending a malicious request to the FTP service, leading to memory corruption. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to overwrite the instruction pointer and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the FTP service. This vulnerability is reachable over the network without prior authentication.

## Affected products

- Jgaa War FTP Daemon

## Timeline

- 1998-02-01: disclosed: Initial publication date in NVD

## References

- [http://www.osvdb.org/875](http://www.osvdb.org/875)

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