Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a local privilege escalation issue in the Linux splitvt command. A user who already has local access could trigger a buffer overflow and obtain root access. The source bundle does not identify affected versions, distributions, CVSS score, or a vendor fix.
Executive priority
Treat this as a legacy local root-risk item. It is not shown as actively exploited, but systems with shared users or exposed local accounts should be reviewed because root compromise has high operational impact.
Technical view
CVE-1999-0316 describes a buffer overflow in splitvt that gives root access to local users. Available sources provide only a high-level description, with no CPEs, CWE mapping, affected version range, patch identifier, or exploit telemetry.
Likely exposure
Likely exposure is limited to legacy Linux systems where splitvt is installed and available to local users, especially if the binary runs with elevated privileges. The provided sources do not confirm specific distributions or versions.
Exploitation context
The CVE states local users can gain root access. The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing, active exploitation, public exploit confirmation, or remote attack capability.
Researcher notes
Evidence is sparse: no CVSS, CWE, CPE, affected versions, exploit status, or remediation details are present in the supplied bundle. Analysis should stay anchored to local privilege escalation in splitvt and avoid broader Linux assumptions.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory Linux hosts for splitvt installation and usage.
- Check distribution and vendor guidance for affected packages and fixes.
- Remove or disable splitvt where it is not operationally required.
- Reduce unnecessary local shell access on systems that may include splitvt.
- Prioritize hardened legacy hosts with untrusted or shared local users.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether splitvt exists on Linux assets under management.
- Review package metadata to identify distribution, version, and maintainer status.
- Check whether splitvt is executable by local users with elevated privileges.
- Correlate findings with vendor advisories or package changelogs.
- Document any systems where version impact cannot be determined.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-1999-0316 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/CVE-1999-0316CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.