CVE-1999-0038

HIGH

Data General DG UX - Buffer Overflow

Title source: rule
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 2 public exploits for CVE-1999-0038.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This is a classic stack-based buffer overflow exploit for xlock, leveraging a vulnerable command-line argument to overwrite the return address and execute arbitrary shellcode. The exploit targets a suid root binary to achieve local privilege escalation.

Description

Buffer overflow in xlock program allows local users to execute commands as root.

Exploits (2)

exploitdb WORKING POC
clocalunix
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/19172

This is a classic stack-based buffer overflow exploit for xlock, leveraging a vulnerable command-line argument to overwrite the return address and execute arbitrary shellcode. The exploit targets a suid root binary to achieve local privilege escalation.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: xlock (version not specified, likely pre-1997)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: xlock installed as suid root · xlock located at /usr/X11/bin/xlock
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 19, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC
clocalunix
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/19173

This exploit targets a buffer overflow vulnerability in xlock (CVE-1999-0038) to achieve local privilege escalation. It constructs a malicious environment variable and overflows the buffer to execute arbitrary shellcode, potentially granting root access.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: xlock (version not specified)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local access to the target system · xlock installed and executable
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 19, 2026 Full analysis →

References (1)

Core 1
Core References
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry x_refsource_misc
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/CVE-1999-0038

Scores

CVSS v3 8.4
EPSS 0.0012
EPSS Percentile 31.3%
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation none
Automatable no
Technical Impact total

Details

CWE
CWE-120
Status published
Products (42)
bsdi/bsd_os 2.1
data_general/dg_ux 1.0
data_general/dg_ux 2.0
data_general/dg_ux 3.0
data_general/dg_ux 4.0
data_general/dg_ux 5.0
data_general/dg_ux 6.0
data_general/dg_ux 7.0
debian/debian_linux 0.93
debian/debian_linux 1.1
... and 32 more
Published Apr 26, 1997
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026