# CVE-1999-1302: SCO UNIX privilege escalation in pt_chmod

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-1302-sco-unix-privilege-escalation-in-pt-chmod  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 1994-11-30. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-1999-1302 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.2 · Published 1994-11-30

A security vulnerability exists in a core utility of the SCO UNIX operating system. This flaw allows a person who already has a standard user account on the system to bypass security controls and gain full administrative (root) access. This could lead to a complete compromise of the server, including the theft of sensitive data or the disruption of business operations.

Technologies: [Sco Unix](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/unix). Vendors: [Sco](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/sco).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-1999-1302 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-1999-1302 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-1999-1302?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.2, published 30 November 1994.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Sco Unix 4.2 and earlier.

**Is there a fix for CVE-1999-1302?** 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-1999-1302 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-1999-1302?** Check whether you run Sco Unix 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 vulnerability exists in the pt_chmod executable within SCO UNIX versions 4.2 and earlier. pt_chmod is a utility typically used to set the permissions of a pseudo-terminal slave device. While the specific root cause is not detailed in the advisory, the flaw is categorized as a local privilege escalation. An attacker with local shell access can exploit this vulnerability to bypass authorization checks and execute commands with root-level privileges. This is a legacy vulnerability originally disclosed in 1994.

## Affected products

- SCO UNIX 4.2 and earlier

## Timeline

- 1994-11-30: disclosed: Initial public disclosure
- 1994-11-30: advisory: NVD publication date

## References

- [http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/bulletins/f-05.shtml](http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/bulletins/f-05.shtml)
- [http://ftp.cerias.purdue.edu/pub/advisories/cert/cert_bulletins/VB-94:01.sco](http://ftp.cerias.purdue.edu/pub/advisories/cert/cert_bulletins/VB-94:01.sco)
- [http://www.osvdb.org/8797](http://www.osvdb.org/8797)
- [https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/7586](https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/7586)

## Related threats

- [SCO UNIX privilege escalation in login](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-1304-sco-unix-privilege-escalation-in-login)
- [SCO UNIX privilege escalation in at program](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-1305-sco-unix-privilege-escalation-in-at-program)
- [SCO UNIX privilege escalation in prwarn](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-1303-sco-unix-privilege-escalation-in-prwarn)
- [SCO UNIX passwd denial of service](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-1162-sco-unix-passwd-denial-of-service)