# CVE-1999-0309: HP HP-UX privilege escalation in vgdisplay

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0309-hp-hp-ux-privilege-escalation-in-vgdisplay  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 1997-02-01. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-1999-0309 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.2 · Published 1997-02-01

A vulnerability in the HP-UX operating system allows standard users to gain full administrative control over the server. By exploiting a flaw in the vgdisplay utility, which is used to manage disk storage, a local attacker can bypass security restrictions to access sensitive data or disrupt operations. This could lead to a complete compromise of the affected system's integrity and confidentiality.

Technologies: [Hp-Ux](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/hp-ux). Vendors: [Hp](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/hp).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-1999-0309 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-1999-0309 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-1999-0309?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.2, published 1 February 1997.

**Which products and versions are affected?** HP HP-UX.

**Is there a fix for CVE-1999-0309?** 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-1999-0309 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-1999-0309?** Check whether you run Hp-Ux. 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 privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the HP-UX 'vgdisplay' utility, a component of the Logical Volume Manager (LVM). The flaw allows a local, unprivileged user to execute commands or manipulate system files with root-level permissions. While the specific mechanism (such as a buffer overflow or insecure environment variable handling) is not detailed in the legacy advisory, the impact is a full compromise of the local host. This issue affects older versions of the HP-UX operating system and was addressed in HP security advisory HPSBUX9702-056.

## Affected products

- HP HP-UX

## Timeline

- 1997-02-01: disclosed: Initial publication of the vulnerability.
- 1997-02-01: advisory: HP released advisory HPSBUX9702-056.

## References

- [http://www1.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docId=HPSBUX9702-056](http://www1.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docId=HPSBUX9702-056)

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