Quick answers
- Is CVE-1999-0502 exploited in the wild?
- No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-1999-0502 being exploited in the wild.
- How severe is CVE-1999-0502?
- High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 1 March 1998.
- Which products and versions are affected?
- Unix Unix All versions with default/null passwords; Sun Solaris 2.5.1, 7.0, 8.0; Sun SunOS 5.5.1, 5.7, 5.8.
- Is there a fix for CVE-1999-0502?
- 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-1999-0502 attacked?
- It is attacked over the network, in an operating system.
- Am I affected by CVE-1999-0502?
- Check whether anything you run is named in the advisory. 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
This vulnerability stems from insecure default configurations or administrative oversight where a Unix user account is left with a null, blank, or well-known default password. An attacker can exploit this by attempting to authenticate via network services (such as Telnet, SSH, or FTP) using common default credentials or no password at all. Successful exploitation provides the attacker with the privileges of the affected account, which can be used for further lateral movement or local privilege escalation. The issue is mitigated by enforcing strong password policies and ensuring all system accounts are properly secured during installation and maintenance.
Affected products
- Unix Unix All versions with default/null passwords
- Sun Solaris 2.5.1, 7.0, 8.0
- Sun SunOS 5.5.1, 5.7, 5.8
Timeline
- 1998-03-01: disclosed