# CVE-1999-0328: SGI permissions program privilege escalation

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0328-sgi-permissions-program-privilege-escalation  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 1997-11-01. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-1999-0328 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.2 · Published 1997-11-01

A vulnerability in the SGI permissions utility allows a local user to bypass security restrictions and gain full administrative control over the system. This could lead to the unauthorized access of sensitive data, system-wide outages, or the installation of malicious software. The issue affects older SGI operating systems where the permissions program does not correctly handle user requests.

Technologies: [Sgi Irix](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/irix). Vendors: [Sgi](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/sgi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-1999-0328 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-1999-0328 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-1999-0328?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.2, published 1 November 1997.

**Which products and versions are affected?** SGI IRIX.

**Is there a fix for CVE-1999-0328?** 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-1999-0328 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-1999-0328?** Check whether you run Sgi Irix. 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 SGI 'permissions' program. The flaw allows a local, unprivileged user to execute commands or manipulate system files with root-level authority. The root cause is likely an insecure handling of permissions or a buffer overflow within the utility, though specific code-level details are limited in historical records. An attacker must have local shell access to the system to exploit this vulnerability. SGI released security advisory 19971103-01-PX to address this issue.

## Affected products

- SGI IRIX

## Timeline

- 1997-11-01: disclosed
- 1997-11-03: advisory: SGI security advisory 19971103-01-PX released

## Related threats

- [Vulnerability in (1) diskperf and (2) diskalign in IRIX 6.4 allows local attacker to create arbitrary root owned…](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-1492-vulnerability-in-1-diskperf-and-2-diskalign-in-irix-6-4-allows)
- [Vulnerability in (1) diskalign and (2) diskperf in IRIX 6.4 patches 2291 and 2848 allow a local user to create…](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-1039-vulnerability-in-1-diskalign-and-2-diskperf-in-irix-6-4-patches)
- [SGI IRIX buffer overflow in xterm and Xaw](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0126-sgi-irix-buffer-overflow-in-xterm-and-xaw)
- [SGI IRIX buffer overflow in printers program](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0108-sgi-irix-buffer-overflow-in-printers-program)
- [SGI IRIX command injection in ipxchk and ipxlink](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-1501-sgi-irix-command-injection-in-ipxchk-and-ipxlink)