# CVE-1999-0627: Sun Microsystems rexd service weak authentication

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-0627-sun-microsystems-rexd-service-weak-authentication  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 1992-03-01. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-1999-0627 · Severity: info · CVSS 0 · Published 1992-03-01

The rexd service is an older remote execution tool used to run commands on different computers across a network. Because it uses very weak security checks, an unauthorized person could potentially use it to take control of a system and run malicious commands. Organizations should disable this service or ensure it is only accessible within a highly trusted, isolated network.

Vendors: [Sun Microsystems](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/sun-microsystems).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-1999-0627 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-1999-0627 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-1999-0627?** Informational severity, with a CVSS score of 0, published 1 March 1992.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Sun Microsystems Rexd Service All versions.

**Is there a fix for CVE-1999-0627?** 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-1999-0627 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a hosted service.

**Am I affected by CVE-1999-0627?** Check whether you run Sun Microsystems Rexd Service at an affected version. 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 rexd (Remote Execution) service relies on RPC-based authentication that is inherently weak and easily spoofed. An attacker with network access to the service can bypass authentication to execute arbitrary commands on the host with the privileges of the service. This is considered a configuration and protocol-level weakness rather than a specific software bug. Security best practices dictate that rexd should be disabled or restricted to trusted network segments via firewalling, as it lacks the robust encryption and authentication found in modern alternatives like SSH.

## Affected products

- Sun Microsystems rexd service All versions

## Timeline

- 1992-03-01: disclosed: Initial publication date in NVD.

## References

- [https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/CVE-1999-0627](https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/CVE-1999-0627)