Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-1999-1183 is an old SGI IRIX System Manager issue. A malicious descriptor file could cause command execution when handled through specific Mailcap file types. Business urgency is mainly for organizations still operating or emulating SGI IRIX 6.3 or 6.4, especially where users process untrusted files or mail content.
Executive priority
Prioritize only if legacy SGI IRIX systems remain in production, labs, manufacturing, or archives. For most modern environments, urgency is low because the affected platform is obsolete. For confirmed IRIX 6.3/6.4 use, treat as a legacy remote code execution risk requiring containment.
Technical view
The sysmgr GUI in SGI IRIX 6.3 and 6.4 can execute commands through trojaned runtask or runexec descriptor files when Mailcap supports x-sgi-task or x-sgi-exec. The public record provides no CVSS, CWE, patch, or structured affected-product data beyond the description.
Likely exposure
Likely limited to legacy SGI IRIX 6.3 or 6.4 systems with System Manager and relevant Mailcap handlers enabled. Exposure depends on users or workflows receiving and opening untrusted descriptor content.
Exploitation context
The source describes remote attackers providing malicious descriptor files, but does not show active exploitation. CISA KEV is not indicated. Successful exploitation appears configuration- and user/workflow-dependent through Mailcap handling.
Researcher notes
Public data is sparse. The CVE record names the vulnerable component and trigger conditions but lacks CVSS, CWE, references, patch status, and precise vendor metadata. Avoid assuming exploit availability or remediation details beyond checking vendor guidance and reducing exposure.
Mitigation direction
- Identify and retire or isolate SGI IRIX 6.3 and 6.4 systems.
- Check archived SGI or vendor guidance for any supported fix or configuration change.
- Restrict handling of untrusted sysmgr descriptor files and related mail content.
- Review Mailcap associations for x-sgi-task and x-sgi-exec on affected hosts.
Validation and detection
- Inventory environments for SGI IRIX 6.3 and 6.4 systems.
- Confirm whether System Manager sysmgr GUI is installed or used.
- Review Mailcap entries for x-sgi-task and x-sgi-exec handlers.
- Check whether users receive or open untrusted descriptor attachments or files.
- Document compensating controls for any system that cannot be retired.
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-1999-1183 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
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.