# CVE-1999-0336: HP HP-UX buffer overflow in mstm

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0336-hp-hp-ux-buffer-overflow-in-mstm  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 1996-11-01. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-1999-0336 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.2 · Published 1996-11-01

A security vulnerability exists in the mstm utility of the HP-UX operating system, which is used for system diagnostics and monitoring. An individual with existing access to a local user account can exploit this flaw to take full control of the system. This could lead to the unauthorized access of sensitive data, system instability, or the complete compromise of the server's operations.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-1999-0336 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-1999-0336 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-1999-0336?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.2, published 1 November 1996.

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

**Is there a fix for CVE-1999-0336?** 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-1999-0336 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-1999-0336?** 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 classic buffer overflow vulnerability exists within the 'mstm' (Support Tool Manager) utility in HP-UX. The flaw is triggered when the application fails to properly validate the length of input data, leading to memory corruption. Because mstm often runs with elevated privileges to perform hardware diagnostics, a local attacker can exploit this overflow to execute arbitrary code with root-level permissions. This is a local privilege escalation (LPE) attack requiring prior access to a non-privileged shell on the target system.

## Affected products

- HP HP-UX

## Timeline

- 1996-11-01: disclosed: Initial publication date in NVD

## References

- [https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/CVE-1999-0336](https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/CVE-1999-0336)

## Related threats

- [IBM Informix Dynamic Server 14.10, 15.0, and 12.10 could allow an unauthenticated user to execute arbitrary commands…](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-13476-ibm-informix-dynamic-server-14-10-15-0-and-12-10-could-allow-an)
- [IBM Informix Dynamic Server 14.10, and 15.0 contain a local privilege escalation vulnerability in the oninit setuid-root utility.](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-13367-ibm-informix-dynamic-server-14-10-and-15-0-contain-a-local)
- [Multiple Vendors TCP/IP Land denial of service](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0016-multiple-vendors-tcp-ip-land-denial-of-service)
- [Sun Solaris automountd command injection via shell metacharacters](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0210-sun-solaris-automountd-command-injection-via-shell-metacharacters)
- [Linux inetd denial of service via SYN and RST packets](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0216-linux-inetd-denial-of-service-via-syn-and-rst-packets)