CVE-1999-0038
Buffer overflow in xlock program allows local users to execute commands as root.
Does this matter?
2 public exploits are published in Exploit-DB (verified) and the impact is high, while EPSS rates exploitation at 1.3%. Anyone can run this; patch or mitigate before the next change window and check exposed instances for signs of use.
Description
Buffer overflow in xlock program allows local users to execute commands as root.
- CVSS 3.1
- 8.4 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 1.32% probability · 71th percentile
- Public exploits
- 2 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 26 April 1997
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-120
- Affected
- data general/dg ux · sgi/irix · bsdi/bsd os · debian/debian linux · hp/hp-ux · ibm/aix · sun/solaris · sun/sunos
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS 1.3% since 26 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
Public exploits (2)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
| EDB-ID | Title | Type | Published | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDB-19173source ↗ | BSD/OS 2.1 / DG/UX 7.0 / Debian 1.3 / HP-UX 10.34 / IBM AIX 4.2 / SGI IRIX 6.4 / Solaris 2.5.1 - '/usr/bin/X11/xlock' Local Privilege Escalation (2)unix · BeastMaster | local | 26 April 1997 | yes |
| EDB-19172source ↗ | BSD/OS 2.1 / DG/UX 7.0 / Debian 1.3 / HP-UX 10.34 / IBM AIX 4.2 / SGI IRIX 6.4 / Solaris 2.5.1 - 'xlock' Local Overflow / Local Privilege Escalation (1)unix · cesaro | local | 26 April 1997 | yes |
References
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.