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CVE Record

CVE-1999-1298: Sysinstall in FreeBSD 2.2.1 and earlier, when configuring anonymous FTP, creates the ftp user without a pas...

Sysinstall in FreeBSD 2.2.1 and earlier, when configuring anonymous FTP, creates the ftp user without a password and with /bin/date as the shell, which could allow attackers to gain access to certain system resources.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is an old FreeBSD installation configuration flaw. When anonymous FTP was configured, sysinstall could create an ftp account with no password and a nonstandard shell. On affected legacy systems, this may let outsiders access system resources through that account.

Executive priority

Treat this as a legacy-system hygiene issue. It is not broadly urgent for modern infrastructure, but any exposed legacy FreeBSD FTP server should be reviewed promptly because the flaw involves unauthenticated account access conditions.

Technical view

CVE-1999-1298 affects FreeBSD 2.2.1 and earlier during anonymous FTP setup with sysinstall. The installer creates the ftp user without a password and with /bin/date as the shell. The CVE states this could allow attackers to access certain system resources. No CVSS, CWE, patch, or detailed vendor advisory is included in the provided sources.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to very old FreeBSD 2.2.1 or earlier systems where anonymous FTP was configured using sysinstall. Most modern environments are unlikely to be affected unless they retain legacy internet-facing FTP hosts or inherited appliances based on old FreeBSD.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not report active exploitation, and this CVE is not marked as KEV. The risk is configuration-dependent: an anonymous FTP setup may have left a passwordless ftp user present, which could allow unintended resource access.

Researcher notes

Evidence is sparse and limited to the CVE description. There are no affected CPEs, CVSS metrics, CWE mappings, exploit details, or fix references in the supplied data. Validate by configuration review rather than assuming all FreeBSD systems are affected.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify any FreeBSD 2.2.1 or earlier systems still in service.
  • Check vendor or FreeBSD historical guidance for supported remediation details.
  • Disable anonymous FTP where it is not strictly required.
  • Ensure the ftp account is locked or otherwise cannot authenticate.
  • Restrict FTP service exposure to trusted networks where business-required.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory legacy FreeBSD hosts and appliances.
  • Review whether anonymous FTP was configured using sysinstall.
  • Check the ftp user account password and login restrictions.
  • Confirm FTP is not internet-facing unless explicitly required.
  • Document compensating controls for any system that cannot be upgraded.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
2

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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

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description · low confidence lookup

Credential and access behavior lookup

The CVE wording references authentication or credential exposure, so valid-account and credential-access review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-1999-1298 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

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.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
1Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.