---
id: CVE-1999-1438
title: >-
  Vulnerability in /bin/mail in SunOS 4.1.1 and earlier allows local users to
  gain root privileges via certain command line arguments.
summary: >-
  Vulnerability in /bin/mail in SunOS 4.1.1 and earlier allows local users to
  gain root privileges via certain command line arguments.
severity: high
cvss: 7.2
cvssVector: 'AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C'
published: '1991-02-22'
updated: '2026-06-16'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-1999-1438'
references:
  - url: 'http://sunsolve.sun.com/pub-cgi/retrieve.pl?doctype=coll&doc=secbull/105'
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: 'http://www.cert.org/advisories/CA-91.01a.SunOS.mail.vulnerability'
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: 'http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/15'
    label: cve@mitre.org
  - url: 'http://sunsolve.sun.com/pub-cgi/retrieve.pl?doctype=coll&doc=secbull/105'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'http://www.cert.org/advisories/CA-91.01a.SunOS.mail.vulnerability'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/15'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
tags:
  - nvd
epss: 0.00406
epssPercentile: 0.32165
ingestedAt: '2026-06-19T03:39:00.679Z'
---

## Overview

Vulnerability in /bin/mail in SunOS 4.1.1 and earlier allows local users to gain root privileges via certain command line arguments.

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.