# CVE-1999-1088: HP HP-UX privilege escalation in chsh command

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-1088-hp-hp-ux-privilege-escalation-in-chsh-command  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 1997-01-09. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-1999-1088 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.2 · Published 1997-01-09

A vulnerability in the 'chsh' command on older HP-UX operating systems allows a local user to gain elevated system privileges. The 'chsh' utility is used by employees to change their default login shell. An attacker with a standard user account could exploit this flaw to take full control of the server, potentially leading to the theft of sensitive data or disruption of operations.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-1999-1088 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-1999-1088 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-1999-1088?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.2, published 9 January 1997.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Hp-Ux 9.X through 10.20.

**Is there a fix for CVE-1999-1088?** 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-1999-1088 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-1999-1088?** Check whether you run Hp-Ux 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

A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the 'chsh' (change shell) utility within HP-UX versions 9.X through 10.20. The flaw resides in the handling of user input or environment variables by the setuid-root executable, allowing a local, unprivileged user to execute arbitrary code or manipulate system files with root authority. An attacker must have local shell access to the system to execute the command. Successful exploitation results in a complete compromise of the host's confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Patches were historically made available by the vendor to address this issue.

## Affected products

- HP HP-UX 9.X through 10.20

## Timeline

- 1997-01-09: disclosed: Initial publication date

## References

- [http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/bulletins/h-21.shtml](http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/bulletins/h-21.shtml)
- [https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/2012](https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/2012)

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