# CVE-1999-1304: SCO UNIX privilege escalation in login

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-1304-sco-unix-privilege-escalation-in-login  
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-1999-1304 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.2 · Published 1994-11-30

A security flaw in the login component of SCO UNIX allows individuals with physical or local access to the system to bypass security controls. By exploiting this vulnerability, a standard user can gain full administrative (root) privileges. This could lead to a total compromise of the server, including the theft of sensitive data and the ability to disrupt business operations.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-1999-1304 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-1999-1304 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-1999-1304?** 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-1999-1304?** 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-1999-1304 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-1999-1304?** 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 privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the login utility of SCO UNIX versions 4.2 and earlier. The flaw allows a local, unauthenticated user to execute commands or manipulate the login process to obtain a root shell. While the specific technical root cause (such as a buffer overflow or environment variable manipulation) is not detailed in the legacy advisory, the impact is a complete loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Attackers must have local access to the system to exploit this vulnerability. Users are advised to upgrade to a supported version or apply vendor-provided patches from the mid-1990s.

## Affected products

- SCO UNIX 4.2 and earlier

## Timeline

- 1994-11-30: disclosed

## References

- [http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/bulletins/f-05.shtml](http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/bulletins/f-05.shtml)

## Related threats

- [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 privilege escalation in pt_chmod](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-1302-sco-unix-privilege-escalation-in-pt-chmod)
- [SCO UNIX passwd denial of service](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-1162-sco-unix-passwd-denial-of-service)