CVE-1999-0658 is a rejected candidate vulnerability originally associated with the configuration of DCOM (Distributed Component Object Model) running on a system. The candidate was ultimately rejected because it did not represent a direct security vulnerability but rather a configuration state that could be cataloged under the Common Configuration Enumeration (CCE) framework. The initial concern was that having DCOM enabled might pose a security risk; however, this alone does not constitute a vulnerability without additional context or exploitable flaws. Therefore, no specific affected versions or exploit details exist for this candidate. The rejection indicates that the presence of DCOM running is a configuration detail rather than a vulnerability that can be exploited to compromise confidentiality, integrity, or availability. No patches or mitigations are directly associated with this candidate, and there are no known exploits in the wild. This candidate serves as a reminder that not all configurations that might seem risky are vulnerabilities unless they can be directly exploited or lead to security breaches.

Since CVE-1999-0658 is not an actual vulnerability but a configuration state, it does not pose a direct security threat to organizations, including those in Europe. The impact is therefore minimal or nonexistent in terms of exploitation. However, from a security posture perspective, having DCOM enabled on systems without proper controls could potentially increase the attack surface if other vulnerabilities exist in the environment. European organizations should consider this as part of their broader configuration management and hardening practices rather than a direct threat. The lack of direct exploitability means that no immediate risk to confidentiality, integrity, or availability arises solely from this configuration.

Although CVE-1999-0658 is not a vulnerability, organizations should still follow best practices for managing DCOM and similar services. Specifically, European organizations should: 1) Audit and inventory systems running DCOM to understand exposure. 2) Restrict DCOM usage to only necessary systems and applications. 3) Apply network segmentation and firewall rules to limit access to DCOM ports and services. 4) Ensure systems are fully patched and hardened to mitigate any other vulnerabilities that could be exploited in conjunction with DCOM. 5) Use configuration management tools to enforce secure settings and monitor deviations. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on minimizing the attack surface related to DCOM configurations and integrating this into a comprehensive security program.