# CVE-1999-1408: IBM AIX and HP-UX denial of service via socket reuse

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-1999-1408-ibm-aix-and-hp-ux-denial-of-service-via-socket-reuse  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 1997-03-05. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-1999-1408 · Severity: low · CVSS 2.1 · Published 1997-03-05

A vulnerability in the networking components of IBM AIX and HP-UX operating systems allows a local user to crash the entire system. By running a simple sequence of network commands on the machine, an attacker can trigger a kernel failure, leading to a complete service outage. This affects the availability of the server and any applications running on it, though it does not directly expose sensitive data.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-1999-1408 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-1999-1408 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-1999-1408?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 2.1, published 5 March 1997.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Hp-Ux 10.01, 9.05; IBM Aix 4.1.4.

**Is there a fix for CVE-1999-1408?** 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-1999-1408 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-1999-1408?** Check whether you run Hp-Ux or IBM Aix 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 kernel-level denial of service vulnerability exists in the TCP/IP stack of AIX 4.1.4 and specific HP-UX versions. The flaw is triggered when a local process creates a TCP socket, connects to a local port, calls shutdown() to clear the socket state, and then immediately attempts to reuse the same socket to connect to a different local port. This sequence causes a kernel panic or system crash. The vulnerability requires local shell access to execute the malicious code but does not require administrative privileges.

## Affected products

- IBM AIX 4.1.4
- HP HP-UX 10.01, 9.05

## Timeline

- 1997-03-05: disclosed: Initial discovery reported on Bugtraq mailing list
- 1997-03-05: advisory: NVD published date

## References

- [http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=87602167420641&w=2](http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=87602167420641&w=2)
- [http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/352](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/352)

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