CVE-1999-1405

IBM AIX < 4.3.2 - Unprotected User Data Exposure via /tmp/ibmsupt Directory

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-1999-1405. PoCs published by Larry W. Cashdollar.

AI-analyzed exploit summary The exploit describes a symlink attack vulnerability in the AIX 'snap' command, which can leak password hashes by creating a directory and file in /tmp/ibmsupt/general/ before root executes 'snap -a'. This defeats password shadowing due to improper file handling.

Description

snap command in AIX before 4.3.2 creates the /tmp/ibmsupt directory with world-readable permissions and does not remove or clear the directory when snap -a is executed, which could allow local users to access the shadowed password file by creating /tmp/ibmsupt/general/passwd before root runs snap -a.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WRITEUP VERIFIED
by Larry W. Cashdollar · textlocalaix
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/19300

The exploit describes a symlink attack vulnerability in the AIX 'snap' command, which can leak password hashes by creating a directory and file in /tmp/ibmsupt/general/ before root executes 'snap -a'. This defeats password shadowing due to improper file handling.

Classification
Writeup 90%
Attack Type
Info Leak
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: IBM AIX snap command (tested on AIX 4.2.1)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to a system with AIX 4.2.1 or similar · Ability to create files in /tmp/ibmsupt/general/ · Root execution of 'snap -a'
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (3)

Core 3
Core References
Mailing List mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=91954824614013&w=2
Exploit vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/375
Mailing List mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=91936783009385&w=2

Scores

EPSS 0.0335
EPSS Percentile 87.1%

Details

Status published
Products (8)
ibm/aix 3.2.5
ibm/aix 4.1
ibm/aix 4.1.2
ibm/aix 4.1.3
ibm/aix 4.1.4
ibm/aix 4.1.5
ibm/aix 4.2
ibm/aix 4.2.1
Published Feb 17, 1999
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026