CVE-1999-0768

Red Hat Linux - Buffer Overflow via MAILTO Environmental Variable

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 2 public exploits for CVE-1999-0768. PoCs published by Akke, jbowie.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit targets a local buffer overflow in Vixie cron's cron_popen() function via the MAILTO environment variable. It executes arbitrary shellcode to create a backdoor root account with a predefined password.

Description

Buffer overflow in Vixie Cron on Red Hat systems via the MAILTO environmental variable.

Exploits (2)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Akke · clocallinux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/19469

This exploit targets a local buffer overflow in Vixie cron's cron_popen() function via the MAILTO environment variable. It executes arbitrary shellcode to create a backdoor root account with a predefined password.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Vixie cron (versions shipping with RedHat 4.2, 5.2, and 6.0)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local access to the vulnerable system · Vixie cron installed and running as setuid root
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by jbowie · clocallinux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/19470

This exploit targets a local buffer overflow in Vixie cron (CVE-1999-0768) via the MAILTO environment variable. It overwrites the return address with shellcode to execute arbitrary commands, leading to a root shell by exploiting the setuid binary.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Vixie cron 3.0 (RedHat 4.2, 5.2, 6.0)
Auth required
Prerequisites: Local access to the vulnerable system · Vixie cron installed setuid root
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (1)

Core 1
Core References
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/602

Scores

EPSS 0.0230
EPSS Percentile 81.1%

Details

Status published
Products (5)
redhat/linux 4.2
redhat/linux 5.2
redhat/linux 6.0
suse/suse_linux 6.0
suse/suse_linux 6.1
Published Aug 25, 1999
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026