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CVE-1999-1165

7.2 · HIGH

GNU fingerd 1.37 does not properly drop privileges before accessing user information, which could allow local users to (1) gain root privileges via a malicious program in the .fingerrc file, or (2)…

Published Jul 21, 1999gnuEPSS 0.46%

Overview

CVE-1999-1165 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting gnu fingerd. It was published on July 21, 1999 and has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.2 (HIGH).

This vulnerability has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.2, rated HIGH. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.

Technical description

GNU fingerd 1.37 does not properly drop privileges before accessing user information, which could allow local users to (1) gain root privileges via a malicious program in the .fingerrc file, or (2) read arbitrary files via symbolic links from .plan, .forward, or .project files.

Remediation

Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from gnu. Update fingerd to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

Affected products

VendorProductVersionsStatus

References

Refmarc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=93268249021561&w=2Refwww.securityfocus.com/archive/1/2478Refwww.securityfocus.com/bid/535Refmarc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=93268249021561&w=2Refwww.securityfocus.com/archive/1/2478Refwww.securityfocus.com/bid/535

How CyberStrike helps

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-1999-1165?

CVE-1999-1165 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting gnu fingerd. It was published on July 21, 1999 and has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.2 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-1999-1165?

This vulnerability has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.2, rated HIGH. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.

How do I fix or remediate CVE-1999-1165?

Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from gnu. Update fingerd to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

How can CyberStrike help with CVE-1999-1165?

CyberStrike is an open-source, AI-augmented pentesting engine. Rather than flag a version number, it tests whether an issue like CVE-1999-1165 is actually reachable in your own applications and APIs, then verifies each finding before reporting it. That tells you if the weakness is a real, exploitable risk in your environment or a false positive you can safely deprioritize.

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