# CVE-1999-0296: Sun Solaris arbitrary file read in volrmmount

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0296-sun-solaris-arbitrary-file-read-in-volrmmount  
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-1999-0296 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.2 · Published 1998-02-01

A vulnerability in the Solaris volume management utility allows a local user to read any file on the system, including sensitive configuration and password files. This could lead to a total compromise of the operating system and unauthorized access to private data. The issue affects the volrmmount program, which is used for managing removable media.

Technologies: [Sunos](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/sunos). Vendors: [Sun](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/sun).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-1999-0296 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-1999-0296 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-1999-0296?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.2, published 1 February 1998.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Sun Microsystems Solaris 2.6 and earlier.

**Is there a fix for CVE-1999-0296?** 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-1999-0296 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-1999-0296?** Check whether you run Sunos. 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 volrmmount utility in Sun Solaris (specifically version 2.6 and potentially others) contains a vulnerability that allows local users to read arbitrary files. The flaw exists in the handling of file permissions or paths within the volume management service, enabling an unprivileged user to bypass standard access controls. By exploiting this, an attacker with local shell access can view sensitive system files such as /etc/shadow. This is a local privilege escalation vector that can lead to full system compromise. Sun Microsystems released security bulletin 162 to address this issue.

## Affected products

- Sun Microsystems Solaris 2.6 and earlier

## Timeline

- 1998-02-01: disclosed
- 1998-02-01: advisory: NVD publication date

## References

- [http://sunsolve.sun.com/pub-cgi/retrieve.pl?doctype=coll&doc=secbull/162](http://sunsolve.sun.com/pub-cgi/retrieve.pl?doctype=coll&doc=secbull/162)

## Related threats

- [Sun NIS+ authentication bypass in rpc.nisd](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0795-sun-nis-authentication-bypass-in-rpc-nisd)
- [Sun Solaris Telnet denial of service via control characters](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0273-sun-solaris-telnet-denial-of-service-via-control-characters)
- [Sun Microsystems SunOS kernel panic via /dev/tcx0 read](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-1449-sun-microsystems-sunos-kernel-panic-via-dev-tcx0-read)
- [Sun Solaris buffer overflow in libc getopt function](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0966-sun-solaris-buffer-overflow-in-libc-getopt-function)
- [Sun WorkMan arbitrary file overwrite and privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0277-sun-workman-arbitrary-file-overwrite-and-privilege-escalation)