CVE-1999-0895 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Check Point's Firewall-1 version 4.0. The vulnerability arises because Firewall-1 does not properly restrict access to LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) attributes. LDAP is commonly used for directory services, including user authentication and authorization data. Improper access control to LDAP attributes means that unauthorized users or systems could potentially query or retrieve sensitive directory information that should be restricted. This could include user credentials, group memberships, or other sensitive organizational data stored within the LDAP directory. The CVSS score of 7.5 (high) reflects the fact that this vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network (AV:N), requires no authentication (Au:N), and has a low attack complexity (AC:L). The impact covers confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:P/I:P/A:P), indicating that an attacker could not only read sensitive data but potentially modify or disrupt services relying on LDAP. Although this vulnerability dates back to 1999 and affects an older version of Firewall-1, it remains relevant in legacy environments where such versions might still be in use. No patches are available for this specific issue, and there are no known exploits in the wild, which suggests limited active exploitation but does not diminish the risk in unpatched systems. The lack of proper LDAP attribute restrictions could allow attackers to perform reconnaissance, escalate privileges, or disrupt network security policies enforced by Firewall-1, thereby compromising the overall security posture of affected networks.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for those still operating legacy Check Point Firewall-1 version 4.0 or similar configurations. Unauthorized access to LDAP attributes could lead to leakage of sensitive user and organizational data, enabling attackers to map internal network structures, identify privileged accounts, and potentially escalate attacks. This could result in data breaches, unauthorized access to critical systems, and disruption of network security controls. Given the importance of GDPR and strict data protection regulations in Europe, any compromise of directory information could lead to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Furthermore, organizations in sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, which often rely on LDAP for identity management, could face operational disruptions and increased risk of targeted attacks. Although no active exploits are known, the vulnerability's presence in network perimeter devices makes it a valuable target for attackers seeking to gain footholds or conduct lateral movement within European enterprise networks.

Since no official patch is available for this vulnerability, European organizations should consider the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Upgrade or replace legacy Firewall-1 version 4.0 installations with current, supported versions of Check Point products or alternative firewall solutions that properly enforce LDAP attribute access controls. 2) Implement strict network segmentation to limit access to LDAP servers and firewall management interfaces, ensuring only authorized systems and administrators can query LDAP attributes. 3) Employ LDAP access control lists (ACLs) and directory service hardening to restrict attribute visibility and operations to necessary users and services only. 4) Monitor network traffic for unusual LDAP queries or access patterns that could indicate reconnaissance or exploitation attempts. 5) Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments focusing on legacy systems and directory services to identify and remediate similar misconfigurations. 6) Where upgrading is not immediately feasible, consider deploying compensating controls such as VPNs with strong authentication, multi-factor authentication for firewall management, and enhanced logging and alerting on LDAP access events.